Common Grammar Mistakes

Correct grammar is essential for effective communication. However, there are certain mistakes that are often made, even by native English speakers. In this article, we will discuss one common mistake: the missing hyphen in compound adjectives.

The Importance of Hyphens

Hyphens are used to link words together to form compound adjectives. Compound adjectives are two or more words that work together to describe a noun. When these adjectives come before a noun, they are typically hyphenated to avoid confusion and ensure clarity.

The Error

One common mistake is forgetting to include the hyphen in compound adjectives. This can result in incorrect grammar and may lead to confusion or misinterpretation of the intended meaning.

Let's take a look at some examples:

• The wellknown author has published several books. (Incorrect)
• The well-known author has published several books. (Correct)

In this example, "wellknown" should be written as "well-known" since it is a compound adjective describing the author. The hyphen helps to clarify that "well" is not modifying "known" separately, but rather, they work together as a single adjective.

Using Hyphens Correctly

Here are a few guidelines to help you use hyphens correctly:

1. Hyphenate compound adjectives before a noun: "blue-eyed girl," "hard-working student," "fast-paced environment."
2. Do not hyphenate when the adjectives come after the noun: "The girl with blue eyes."
3. Hyphenate compound adjectives with numbers: "a five-year-old child," "a twenty-page report."
4. Hyphenate compound adjectives with fractions: "a two-thirds majority," "a three-quarter inch."

Linguix Grammar Checker

To avoid the common mistake of missing hyphens in compound adjectives, you can use the Linguix grammar checker. This powerful tool not only detects grammar errors but also provides suggestions and explanations to help you improve your writing.