when to hyphenate adjectives

When to Hyphenate Adjectives

Hyphenated adjectives explained! Hyphens are used to connect two words—or compounds—that modify a noun (ex: award-winning actor, brown-eyed girl). While different style guides offer up different recommendations on how and when to hyphenate, the key to keeping your writing smooth is to not overhyphenate. For instance, leave the hyphen out when it’s clear that both words modify the noun. Examples of this include high school student, human rights activist, and ice cream sandwich (our personal favorite). What’s yours?

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