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Regarding the term "on-line," Jeff Jungblut writes:

> I'm not consistent in that respect.  Here are some examples of how I use it:
> 
> "Make sure the printer is on line and selected."
> "Press Command-? for online help."
> "You use a modem for on-line communications with a remote computer."

There are a three standard rules at work here that you need to know about: 

The first is that when a compound adjective appears after the noun it
modifies, the adjective is not hyphenated (your first sentence fits this
rule). 

The second is that when a compound adjective appears before the noun it
modifies, the adjective is generally hyphenated (this fits your last
sentence). 

The third rule is that a reliable dictionary is the ultimate source for
determining hyphenation. Typically, when a compound is new in the language,
it is hyphenated, as in your last sentence, and the dictionary reflects
this. But when the term becomes a popular expression, the hyphen usually
gets dropped, as in your second sentence, and eventually the dictionary
changes to reflect this when the popular momentum becomes great enough. 

Generally speaking, a writer who is concerned about being "correct" will
use whatever form is recommended by a current reliable dictionary. But more
important, at least for me, is to be consistent, because inconsistency, at
the very least, makes one appear careless and possibly ignorant, and at the
very worst, annoys or confuses the reader.

Regarding "on-line," the 1992 American Heritage English Dictionary (on-line
version) spells it "on-line." So that's what I would use when using it
before a noun. Nevertheless, you're quite right that it is becoming popular
in the media to write "online," and in a few years the dictionary will
probably follow suit.

Chuck Petch
Technical Editor