Hyphenated Adjectives

Hyphenated AdjectivesUsing multiple adjectives for clarity

Prepared by Logan Aimone University of Chicago Laboratory High School

2017

lily-livered sign-waving

school-to-work

Definition

At times writers will use commas to punctuate a series of adjectives before a noun when these adjectives are separate and independent of each other. When two or more words are combined to form a compound adjective, a hyphen is usually required (like lily-livered, sign-waving, school-to-work).

Rule: Frequently associated

When two or more words that are frequently associated are used as adjectives, they are not hyphenated. • high school • grade point average

Rule: Adverbs

Adverbs modifying adjectives are not hyphenated. • usually hot • very smart • well done

Rule: A-N or N-N

Use a hyphen if the term used is an adjective-noun or noun-noun construction and is ambiguous and unfamiliar. • 20-page report • high-speed train • small-business owner? (may be optional) • high school curriculum

Rule: Multiple adjectives

When two or more words of a part of speech modify another word used as an adjective, the words must be hyphenated to that adjective. • at-bat average • fire-engine-red Mercedes • tough-as-nails personality

Rule: Equal-force adjectives

Use commas to present adjectives that modify with equal force unless they are joined by conjunctions. • spicy, tangy flavor • spicy-yet-tangy flavor

Rule: Repetitive

Use a hyphen and space to show adjectives that modify the same adjective. • 30- to 40-foot drop • but: near-to-total failure

Hyphenated Adjectives

Let’s practice these new-to-you skills!

Practice

Identify each adjective and ask yourself which word it modifies. Do your best. Hyphenate where appropriate. Commas may be necessary to separate compound adjectives.

Practice

a pop and candy machine a pop-and-candy machine

Hyphenated Adjectives

Try some more…

Practice

a basketball play calling chart

Practice

those mean spirited freshman seeking seniors

Practice

mellow Mountain Dew powered journalism writing machines

Practice

above the fold news story

Practice

victory starved crazed Maroon fans

Practice

bring a three to five foot streamer to wiggle at the less than inspiring team

Practice

a student funded all expense paid senior trip

Practice

write a 750 to 1,000 word article on free press rights

Practice

a two for the price of one offer at the student and teacher organized BSA and ASA activity

Hyphenated Adjectives

How’d you do?

Practice

a basketball play calling chart a basketball play-calling chart

Practice

those mean spirited freshman seeking seniors those mean-spirited, freshman-seeking seniors

Practice

mellow Mountain Dew powered journalism writing machines mellow, Mountain Dew-powered, journalism-writing machines

Practice

above the fold news story above-the-fold news story

Practice

victory starved crazed Maroon fans victory-starved, crazed Maroon fans

Practice

bring a three to five foot streamer to wiggle at the less than inspiring team bring a three- to five-foot streamer to wiggle at the less-than-inspiring team

Practice

a student funded all expense paid senior trip a student-funded, all-expense-paid senior trip

Practice

write a 750 to 1,000 word article on free press rights write a 750- to 1,000-word article on free press rights

Practice

a two for the price of one offer at the student and teacher organized BSA and ASA activity a two-for-the-price-of-one offer at the student- and teacher-organized BSA-and-ASA activity