Use hyphens in compound adjectives

key notes :

What are Compound Adjectives?

Definition: Compound adjectives are formed when two or more words are combined to modify a noun. They usually describe a quality or characteristic.

Examples:

  • Well-known author
  • High-speed train
  • Full-time job

When to Use Hyphens

Before Nouns: Hyphens are typically used in compound adjectives that come before the noun they modify.

  • Example: She adopted a long-haired cat.

Avoiding Ambiguity: Use hyphens to clarify meaning and avoid confusion.

  • Example: The small-business owner (owner of a small business) vs. a small business owner (owner of a small entity).

Common Compound Adjective Structures

  1. Adjective + Past Participle:
    • Example: A hard-earned degree
  2. Adjective + Present Participle:
    • Example: A fast-moving car
  3. Adjective + Noun:
    • Example: A red-hot chili
  4. Noun + Noun:
    • Example: A basketball-sized ball

Special Cases

Compound Numbers: Use hyphens for numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine.

  • Example: A twenty-five year old

Prefixes: Generally, do not use hyphens with common prefixes (e.g., pre-, non-, anti-).

  • Example: Nonprofit organization (no hyphen needed).

When Not to Use Hyphens

After Nouns: Do not use hyphens when the compound adjective follows the noun.

  • Example: The cat is long haired.

Adverbs Ending in -ly: Do not hyphenate when the first word is an adverb ending in -ly.

  • Example: A quickly growing plant (no hyphen between “quickly” and “growing”).

Practice Examples

  1. Write sentences using the following compound adjectives:
    • High-pitched
    • Cold-blooded
    • Open-ended
  2. Identify and correct the use of hyphens in these sentences:
    • The state-of-the-art technology is amazing.
    • She is a well respected teacher.

Let’s practice!🖊️