Pinyin has hitherto been merely a tool for transcribing Chinese characters. It is now becoming also an auxiliary system for writing the Chinese language. Such an extension of its function requires the standardization of its orthography, e.g. rules governing capitalization and use of open space, hyphens, or closed juncture between syllables. This book is an indispensable tool for understanding the officially approved rules of Pinyin orthography. This scholarly work on Hanyu pinyin and its orthography will make an important contribution to the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language. Content is in English.