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What are the best practices for hyphenating compound modifiers?

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Hyphens are small but powerful punctuation marks that can change the meaning and clarity of your sentences. They are especially useful for creating compound modifiers, which are two or more words that act as a single adjective before a noun. For example, in the phrase "a well-written article", well-written is a compound modifier that describes the article. However, hyphenating compound modifiers can be tricky, as there are different rules and exceptions depending on the context and style. In this article, you will learn some of the best practices for hyphenating compound modifiers and avoid common mistakes.

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1 Why hyphenate compound modifiers?

Hyphenating compound modifiers helps you avoid ambiguity and confusion in your writing. Without hyphens, some compound modifiers can have different interpretations or meanings. For example, consider the difference between "a small business owner" and "a small-business owner." The first one could mean an owner who is small in size, while the second one clearly means an owner of a small business. Hyphens also help you avoid awkward or illogical constructions, such as "a heavy metal detector" or "a fast food restaurant." Hyphens show that the words are linked and modify the noun together.

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Richard Pilkington

Communications Coordinator at BJU Press Testing and Evaluation
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Actually, I disagree with "well-written article." The "well" here is an adverb and is just doing what adverbs do (i.e., modifying an adjective). There is no ambiguity because an adverb can't modify a noun. I think "small-business owner" is a great example, but "fast food restaurant" is questionable. "Fast food" is a well established term, so there's no ambiguity. A quick internet search will show "fast food restaurant" (no hyphen) is well established.

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Tim Yagle

copy editor/proofreader, assuring quality control to achieve error-free documents.
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Richard, why shouldn't 'well-written article' be hyphenated? It follows the same rules as 'fast-food restaurant.' Without the hyphen, the sentence reads totally differently. Take the hyphen out of 'well-written' and it reads differently, and no, it's not an adverb in this construction. It's a compound modifier. If it is used as an adverb, it would read 'the article was written well.' Same for 'fast-food restaurant'. Different meaning without the hyphen. The 'food' needs a modifier here, and 'fast' is it. Kinda like 'five-day forecast' on a TV weather map. Take the hyphen out of 'five-day' and it does not read well or say what you want it to say. You say 'well-established term,' but to whom? And when you see it, it's hyphenated.

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2 When to hyphenate compound modifiers?

The general rule is to hyphenate compound modifiers when they appear before a noun, but not when they appear after a noun. For example, you would write "a well-known author" but "the author is well known." This is because when the compound modifier is before the noun, it needs a hyphen to show that it is a single unit, but when it is after the noun, it does not need a hyphen because the meaning is clear from the word order. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as when the compound modifier includes an adverb ending in -ly or a proper noun. In these cases, you do not need to hyphenate the compound modifier, even if it is before a noun. For example, you would write "a newly appointed director" or "the Atlantic Ocean." (This section has been updated by LinkedIn editors based on member feedback.)

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Patrick Owens
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Hyphenate 20-dollar bill. For some reason, this stubbornly contentious “thought” box will not allow a response that is LESS than 750 characters. So much for eschewing obfuscation. So much for clear and concise writing and analysis. I mean, what more is there to say here? Ordinarily, I would not touch one of these comment sections with a 10-foot pole. But here, I am inclined to soldier on, given the 750-character challenge.

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Ken Devine

Technical Writer at Workday
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Hyphenating "-ly" adverb phrases is the biggest inadvertent mistake I see in professionally edited copy. It's definitely an obscure rule, but it should be more well known : )

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Cody Deitz

Technical Writer at Tonkean
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There are reasonable cases to be made for hyphenating or not hyphenating compound modifiers, and, as you can see from the examples provided here, some make more sense than others. I tend to find more hyphenating produces less ambiguity, but perhaps more important than what compound adjectives you choose to hyphenate is that you're consistent in that practice. Establish a basic rule and stick to it everywhere (please—for everyone's sake).

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Victoria Esposito

--Lawyer, law professor, learning Napolitano
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How exactly is "a Shakespearean sonnet" an example of a compound modifier? Please, tell me what I'm missing here.

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3 How to hyphenate compound modifiers?

When hyphenating compound modifiers, you need to pay attention to the number and position of the hyphens. Generally, you should use one hyphen for two-word compound modifiers, such as "a high-quality product" or "a low-carbon footprint." However, if the compound modifier has more than two words, you may need to use more than one hyphen to avoid confusion or ambiguity. For example, you would write "a state-of-the-art facility" or "a one-of-a-kind experience." You should also avoid using double hyphens, such as "a low--cost option" or "a high--risk investment." Instead, you should use a single hyphen or rewrite the phrase to avoid the double hyphen.

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Cheryl Danehart

Copy Desk Chief at The Washington Times
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I disagree with “a low-carbon footprint.” The word ”low” can modify either carbon or footprint. Either way, the phrase is clear without the hyphen. On another topic, I think it’s widely acknowledged that a period should be inside the quote mark.

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Ellen Wehrle
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I think hyphenating "a low-carbon footprint" can still be helpful. Footprint primarily means, "impression left by a foot or a shoe." If we leave the hyphen out, I guess we're expecting that all readers will be able to understand the intended context of "footprint" when used with carbon. AP style is quick on the draw when it comes to compound modifiers, and it usually works out okay. Sigh...

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Tim Yagle

copy editor/proofreader, assuring quality control to achieve error-free documents.
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I disagree with your assertion that 'low' can modify either word. In this context, 'low' obviously modifies 'carbon.' How can it modify 'footprint' here? Do you want this to say 'low footprint?' What does THAT mean? And it really is not 'clear' without the hyphen. Just because some people write it that way doesn't make it clear.

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Richard Pilkington

Communications Coordinator at BJU Press Testing and Evaluation
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I think the quotation marks follow British style (https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/british-versus-american-style.html). It would be interesting to see where the author is writing from.

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4 What are some common mistakes with hyphenating compound modifiers?

One of the most common mistakes with hyphenating compound modifiers is to overuse or underuse them. Overusing hyphens can make your writing look cluttered and complicated, while underusing them can make your writing unclear and misleading. To avoid overusing or underusing hyphens, consider if the compound modifier could create confusion or ambiguity with or without a hyphen. If so, add or remove a hyphen to clarify the meaning and relationship of the words. (This section has been updated by LinkedIn editors based on member feedback.)

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Craig Clarke

Managing Editor at MarketReach, Inc.
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Just like any other grammar/style guidance, hyphenation of compound modifiers should be addressed case by case. There is no rule that suits every situation. The correct choice will depend on meaning and context. Often, the best question is, "Can this possibly be misread?" This is good advice not only for hyphenation but also throughout the rest of the piece.

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5 How to check and edit your hyphenation?

The final step in hyphenating compound modifiers is to check and edit your hyphenation for consistency and accuracy. You should follow a specific style guide, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, that provides guidelines and examples for hyphenating compound modifiers in different contexts and situations. You should also use a reliable dictionary, such as Merriam-Webster or Oxford, that shows the correct spelling and hyphenation of compound words and phrases. Finally, you should proofread your writing carefully and use a tool, such as Grammarly or ProWritingAid, that can detect and correct errors and inconsistencies in your hyphenation.

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Cheryl Danehart

Copy Desk Chief at The Washington Times
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The Associated Press Stylebook is another helpful reference. AP is trending away from hyphens and advising against them in virtually all instances where the meaning would be clear without a hyphen.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Cheryl Danehart

Copy Desk Chief at The Washington Times
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This is one guidance from the AP stylebook: AVOID AMBIGUITY: Use a hyphen whenever ambiguity would result if it were omitted. See COMPOUND MODIFIERS section for details. Also: He recovered his health. He re-covered the leaky roof. The story is a re-creation. The park is for recreation.

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What are the best practices for hyphenating compound modifiers?

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1 Why hyphenate compound modifiers?

2 When to hyphenate compound modifiers?

3 How to hyphenate compound modifiers?

4 What are some common mistakes with hyphenating compound modifiers?

5 How to check and edit your hyphenation?

6 Here’s what else to consider

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