Editing Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey (section)

=== Ho-Ho-Kus versus Hohokus ===
A constant source of confusion has been the manner in which the borough's name has been styled, with each syllable capitalized and separated by hyphens. The confusion is only exacerbated by the existence of [[Hohokus Township, New Jersey|Hohokus Township (now Mahwah)]], which comprised the area of present-day Ho-Ho-Kus and other surrounding communities, yet was styled without the multiple capitalization or the hyphens.

The name "Ho-Ho-Kus" was used explicitly in the resolution requesting a change of name passed by the Borough Council on October 12, 1908, and submitted to the [[Secretary of State of New Jersey]] requesting "That the Borough now known as the Borough of Orvil be hereafter known as the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus..."

A few theories have been offered for the hyphens and capitalization. One is that it was intended to differentiate between the borough and Hohokus Township, which was formed on April 9, 1849, and continued to exist until November 7, 1944, when a [[referendum]] was passed changing the name to present-day [[Mahwah, New Jersey|Mahwah]].<ref name=Story/><ref name=MC1940/> Another explanation was that it was meant to avoid confusion by postal clerks with mail being sent to [[Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]].

While efforts had been made in the ensuing decades to change the name or to alter the way in which the name of the borough is capitalized and punctuated, the borough remains as "Ho-Ho-Kus."<ref>''Background of Ho-Ho-Kus History'' pp. 149–150.</ref>