Use hyphens in compound adjectives

Key Notes:

What is a Compound Adjective?

A compound adjective is made up of two or more words that together describe a noun.
➡️ Example: a well-known actor, a five-star hotel, a high-speed train

Why Use a Hyphen?

We use a hyphen (-) to connect words in a compound adjective so that the meaning is clear.
✅ Example:

• A well-known singer 🎤 (the singer is famous)
  ❌ A well known singer (without hyphen, it may cause confusion)

General Rule:

📍 Use a hyphen when two or more words come before a noun and act as one idea.
✅ Example:

• A high-speed train 🚄
• A part-time job 💼
• A five-year-old boy 👦

Do Not Use Hyphens When:

❌ The compound adjective comes after the noun.
✅ Examples:

• The train is high speed. 🚄
• The boy is five years old. 👦

Examples of Common Compound Adjectives:

Compound Adjective	Example Sentence
well-known 🌟	He is a well-known author.
high-tech 💻	She bought a high-tech laptop.
part-time 🕒	He works as a part-time teacher.
full-length 🎬	We watched a full-length movie.
brightly-lit 💡	They entered a brightly-lit room.

Be Careful With Numbers and Fractions:

📏 When numbers and fractions act as adjectives, use a hyphen.
✅ Examples:

• A ten-year-old car 🚗
• A two-thirds majority 📊
• A five-meter-long rope 🪢

Quick Tip:

If you can replace the words with a single adjective, it’s a compound adjective that usually needs a hyphen.
➡️ Example: well-known = famous (so use a hyphen!)

Summary:

✅ Use hyphens in compound adjectives before nouns.
✅ Do not use hyphens after nouns.
✅ Hyphenate with numbers and fractions used as adjectives.
✅ Helps avoid confusion and makes writing clearer!

Example Sentences:

1️⃣ She wore a bright-red dress. 👗
2️⃣ We live in a twenty-story building. 🏙️
3️⃣ He gave a last-minute reply. ⏰
4️⃣ They opened a family-run restaurant. 🍽️
5️⃣ It was a record-breaking event. 🏆