When writing a book or paper must one spell the name of G-d with a hyphen or may it be spelled in full especially because that type of spelling is peculiar in the secular world.
Answer:
If it is not done in a dishonorable way, there is no prohibition of writing the word God.
Some have the custom of writing the word with a hyphen, for fear that it will be erased, or still worse end up in the garbage. Some authorities, however, rule that there is no prohibition of erasing the Name written in English (though denigration might still be prohibited).
Therefore, where using the hyphen will look odd and out of place, however, it is fine to write the full word.
Best wishes.
See Chayei Adam 5:1; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 6:3; Mishnah Berurah 85:10, who prohibit saying Divine Names in vain even in a foreign language, indicating that they have sanctity. Many authorities concur, and see Rivevos Efraim (5:474, quoting a teshuva from R. Dovid Rosenberg) where numerous sources are collected. See, however, Achiezer (3:32) and Rabbi Akiva Eiger (25), who are lenient.
Concerning erasing, the Shach rules that there is no prohibition against erasing the Name in a language other than Hebrew. The Chavas Ya’ir forbids erasing the Name in other languages when the word is written in Hebrew, but adds that even if it is written in other scripts we must treat it with respect and may not denigrate it (e.g., by throwing it in the garbage). Several authorities (Rabbi Akiva Eiger, citing from the Tashbatz; Minchas Hinuch) agree with the Shach.
