11.5: Hyphens

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Use the hyphen to join two or more words serving as a single modifier before a noun. We use hyphens to clarify how multiple modifiers function before a noun.

Example 1 - You might not know it on first seeing her, but she is a well-known author.

Example 2 - That novelty shop on the boardwalk sells chocolate-covered peanuts.

Example 3 - Last night Ms. Munoz attended a high-school prom-night fundraiser.

If each word works separately to modify a noun, they are not hyphenated. We also do not use a hyphen when the compound modifiers come after a noun.

Example 1 - The old manor house was covered with creeping green Wisteria.

In this case, “creeping” is not modifying “green”; both words work as separate modifiers to describe “Wisteria.”

Example 2 - You might not know it on first seeing her, but the author is well known.

Example 3 - That novelty shop on the boardwalk sells peanuts that are chocolate covered.

Review Questions

For each sentence, insert missing hyphens or omit unnecessary hyphens.

I have nothing to wear for my job interview but a paint splattered tie.
Those ragged-old clothes I got from the attic were moth-ridden.
Shelia’s cat brought home a mouse that was scared-stiff but otherwise unharmed.
The recycling bin was filled with empty-plastic water bottles.
Walter said I could use his, even though it was dog-eared and had missing pages.