Common Mistake: Missing Hyphen in Compound Adjectives

English grammar can be tricky, and one common mistake that many people make is forgetting to include a hyphen when using compound adjectives. A compound adjective is made up of two or more words that together describe a noun. Without the hyphen, the meaning of the phrase can be unclear or confusing.

What is a Compound Adjective?

A compound adjective is formed when two or more words work together to describe a noun. These words can be adjectives, participles, or numbers. To ensure clarity and avoid confusion, compound adjectives should always be hyphenated.

The Importance of Hyphens

The hyphen is a small but powerful punctuation mark that helps to establish the correct meaning of a compound adjective. It serves as a link between the words, signaling that they should be read together as a single concept.

Examples

• Incorrect: She lives in an open plan apartment. (open and plan are separate adjectives, not a compound adjective)
• Correct: She lives in an open-plan apartment. (open-plan is a compound adjective describing the apartment)
• Incorrect: He bought a state of the art computer. (state, of, the, and art are separate adjectives, not a compound adjective)
• Correct: He bought a state-of-the-art computer. (state-of-the-art is a compound adjective describing the computer)

Linguix Grammar Checker

For those looking to avoid common grammar mistakes like missing hyphens in compound adjectives, the Linguix grammar checker is a valuable tool. It can automatically identify and correct these errors, ensuring that your writing is clear, concise, and accurate.