hyphen in 'first person shooter'

When two or more words jointly modify a noun and they appear before it, hyphenate them to show they act as a single unit: first-person shooter, brand-new car. Missing hyphens can slow readers or change meaning.

Quick answer

Hyphenate compound modifiers that come before the noun when the words work together to describe it and could be misread without a hyphen. Don't hyphenate after the noun or when the first word is an -ly adverb.

Before a noun = usually hyphenate: a well-known researcher.
After a noun = usually no hyphen: the researcher is well known.
-ly adverb + adjective = no hyphen: a highly regarded study.

Core rule (short): hyphenate before the noun when words form one modifier

If two or more words together describe a noun and they appear directly before it, use hyphens to bind them. That prevents the reader from parsing the words separately and keeps the intended meaning clear.

If the phrase follows the noun, you normally drop the hyphens because the relationship is clearer in context.

Before noun = hyphenate (a fast-paced race).
After noun = no hyphen (the race was fast paced).
If the first word ends in -ly, skip the hyphen (a highly anticipated event).

Wrong: I enjoy playing first person shooter games.
Right: I enjoy playing first-person shooter games.
Wrong: She bought a brand new car.
Right: She bought a brand-new car.

Numbers, ages, and prefixes (practical traps)

Hyphenate compound numbers and ages when they act as adjectives: a twenty-one-year-old intern. Many prefixed modifiers use hyphens (self-, ex-, mid-), though some forms become closed over time (email).

Adjectival ages & numbers = hyphenate: twenty-one-year-old, six-inch blade.
Hyphenate many prefixed modifiers: ex-husband, self-funded.
Avoid stacking hyphens; rewrite when it becomes hard to read.

Wrong: They hired a twenty one year old intern.
Right: They hired a twenty-one-year-old intern.
Wrong: Her ex husband visited today.
Right: Her ex-husband visited today.
Wrong: The mid 1990s show inspired us.
Right: The mid-1990s show inspired us.

Spacing and dashes: keep hyphens distinct

Use a hyphen (-) to join words in compounds. Use an en dash (-) for ranges (1998-2002) or relationships (New York-London). Use an em dash (-) to set off clauses. Don't add spaces around hyphens in compound modifiers.

Hyphen: word-joining, no spaces (well-being).
En dash: ranges and relationships (1998-2002, New York-London).
Em dash: breaks or interruptions-often without spaces in formal typesetting.

Usage: Correct: June-August (en dash for range).
Incorrect: June - August (spaces).
Usage: Correct: New York-London flight (en dash for pair).
Wrong: New-York-London flight.

Grammar exceptions: -ly adverbs, post-nominal modifiers, and closed compounds

-ly adverbs don't take hyphens with adjectives: a highly regarded paper. When the modifier follows the noun, drop the hyphens: the plan is long term.

Watch for compounds that have become single words (email) or remain hyphenated (mother-in-law). When unsure, check a dictionary or style preference.

-ly adverb + adjective = no hyphen (a deeply held belief).
Post-nominal modifiers = usually no hyphen (the solution is long term).
Check dictionaries for closed vs hyphenated forms (email vs e-mail).

Wrong: She is a highly-regarded researcher.
Right: She is a highly regarded researcher.
Wrong: My mother in law arrived.
Right: My mother-in-law arrived.
Usage: Correct closed form: email (modern). Older style: e-mail.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence instead of the phrase alone. Context usually makes the right answer clearer: move the phrase, insert a comma, or read aloud. If the pause creates confusion, add a hyphen.

Real usage: work, school, and casual examples (copyable fixes)

Examples you can use directly or adapt for similar phrasing in different settings.

Work: hyphenate role- and time-related modifiers (full-time, end-of-year).
School: hyphenate age/credit modifiers and exam descriptions (first-year, two-credit).
Casual: hyphenate common phrases to avoid reader pauses (run-of-the-mill, last-minute).

Work - Wrong: She accepted a full time position.
Work - Right: She accepted a full-time position.
Work - Wrong: We need a long term strategy.
Work - Right: We need a long-term strategy.
Work - Wrong: Send the end of year report.
Work - Right: Send the end-of-year report.
School - Wrong: She's a first year student.
School - Right: She's a first-year student.
School - Wrong: It's a two credit course.
School - Right: It's a two-credit course.
School - Wrong: They scheduled a week long exam period.
School - Right: They scheduled a week-long exam period.
Casual - Wrong: We had a run of the mill party.
Casual - Right: We had a run-of-the-mill party.
Casual - Wrong: Let's go to a last minute movie.
Casual - Right: Let's go to a last-minute movie.
Casual - Wrong: She served store bought cookies.
Casual - Right: She served store-bought cookies.

Rewrite help: three fast rewrites when hyphens get messy

If hyphenation would create a cluster of hyphens or look clumsy, reword. These patterns keep meaning while avoiding awkward punctuation.

Move the modifier after the noun: "a car that was brand new" instead of "brand-new car".
Turn the modifier into a clause: "an intern who was twenty-one years old" instead of "twenty-one-year-old intern".
Use a clearer noun phrase: "shooters in the first person" instead of "first-person shooter games".

Rewrite:
Original: I enjoy playing first person shooter games.
Rewrite: I enjoy playing shooters in the first person.
Rewrite:
Original: She bought a brand new car.
Rewrite: She bought a car that was brand new.
Rewrite:
Original: They hired a twenty one year old intern.
Rewrite: They hired an intern who was twenty-one years old.
Rewrite:
Original: A twenty-one-year-old, full time employee was promoted.
Rewrite: A full-time employee, age twenty-one, was promoted.

Memory trick: the before-noun test and the -ly shortcut

Quick heuristics to decide fast:

Before-noun test: If the phrase sits directly before a noun and a pause or re-reading could change meaning, add hyphens.
-ly shortcut: If the first word ends in -ly, skip the hyphen-the adverb clearly modifies the adjective.
Insert "very" before the modifier: if that still sounds natural, you probably don't need a hyphen (a very fast-paced → odd → hyphenate).

Tip: "a very fast paced movie" sounds off → use "fast-paced movie".
Tip: "a highly regarded expert" → "a very regarded expert" is wrong, so no hyphen is needed.

Similar mistakes to watch for (related pitfalls)

Hyphen questions often appear alongside other compound decisions: closed compounds (email), open compounds (high school), and multiword nouns (mother-in-law). Don't confuse hyphens with dashes, and be consistent within a document.

Don't hyphenate post-nominal modifiers (the policy is long term).
Avoid hyphenating -ly adverbs with adjectives.
Pick a style and stick with it across a document.

Wrong: He is a high-school student.
Right: He is a high school student.
Wrong: Contact me by e-mail.
Right: Contact me by email.
Wrong: We needed a results-oriented approach but used dashes - instead of hyphens.
Right: Use a hyphen inside compounds (results-oriented) and dashes sparingly for breaks.

FAQ

Do I hyphenate "first person shooter"?

Yes, when it appears before the noun: "first-person shooter game." After the noun, a hyphen is optional or not needed: "The game is first person."

When should I hyphenate compound modifiers before a noun?

Hyphenate when two or more words together modify a noun and the lack of a hyphen could cause misreading. Hyphenate adjectival ages and compound numbers (twenty-one-year-old).

Is "well known" hyphenated?

Before the noun: "a well-known author." After the noun: "the author is well known."

Should I hyphenate adverbs ending in -ly before a noun?

No. Adverbs ending in -ly don't take hyphens with adjectives: "a highly anticipated event."

How do I tell the difference between a hyphen and an en dash?

Use a hyphen (-) to join words in compounds. Use an en dash (-) for numeric ranges (2001-2005) or to connect equal elements (New York-London). For most typing, the keyboard hyphen works for compounds; use the en dash for ranges when available.

Want a quick check?

Paste a sentence into a grammar tool or read it aloud to flag hyphenation issues and see recommended corrections. When in doubt, rephrase for clarity-it's often faster than hunting style exceptions.