missing hyphen in 'tailor-made'

Hyphens turn multiword phrases into single modifiers before a noun, preventing odd or ambiguous readings (a tailor-made suit vs someone made a tailor). Use them when words together answer "what kind of" before a noun; drop them when the phrase follows the noun or a linking verb unless a style guide says otherwise.

Quick answer

Hyphenate compound adjectives when they appear before the noun they modify (a tailor-made suit; a time-consuming task). Do not hyphenate the same words after the noun or following a linking verb (The suit was tailor made; The task was time consuming), unless your style guide says otherwise.

Before a noun: hyphenate (a well-known author).
After a linking verb or following the noun: usually no hyphen (The author is well known).
Adverbs ending in -ly are not hyphenated with the adjective (a highly regarded scientist).
Hyphenate to prevent confusing readings (small-business owner vs small business owner).

Core explanation: what hyphens do in compound adjectives

A hyphen signals that multiple words form a single idea modifying a noun. That single idea stops readers from parsing words separately and getting a temporary wrong meaning.

If two or more words together answer "What kind of X?" and appear before X, hyphenate (tailor-made suit; time-consuming task; user-friendly app).
If the phrase follows the noun or is linked by a verb, you usually don't hyphenate (The suit was tailor made; The task was time consuming).

Wrong: I had a tailor made suit for my birthday.
Right: I had a tailor-made suit for my birthday.

Hyphenation rules you can apply right now

Keep a simple rule of thumb: hyphenate compound modifiers that come before the noun. Watch these common exceptions: some compounds close into one word (database), some remain open (real estate), and style guides differ on prefixes and technical terms.

Before noun = hyphenate (a well-known speaker).
After linking verb = no hyphen (The speaker is well known).
Adverbs ending in -ly: no hyphen (a clearly written note).
Numbers used as adjectives: hyphenate before the noun (a 5-year plan).

Wrong: She is a well known scientist in her field.
Right: She is a well-known scientist in her field.
Usage: The scientist is well known for her work. (no hyphen after the verb)

Spacing and punctuation: where hyphens live

A hyphen sits directly between words with no spaces (user-friendly). Don't swap hyphens for en dashes or em dashes: each has its job.

No spaces around hyphens (part-time, tailor-made).
En dash for ranges or connections (1998-2003; New York-London in some styles).
Em dash to set off clauses - not a substitute for a hyphen.
Numeric adjectives: hyphenate before the noun (a 10-year warranty).

Wrong: We signed a 3 month contract.
Right: We signed a 3-month contract.
Wrong: The meeting lasts 9am-10am.
Right: The meeting lasts 9 a.m.-10 a.m. (use an en dash or proper punctuation for ranges).

Grammar signals: quick tests to spot a compound adjective

Two fast checks help decide whether to hyphenate:

Move the phrase after the noun. If meaning shifts or the sentence sounds odd, hyphenate before the noun.
Ask whether the phrase answers "what kind of" before the noun. If yes, hyphenate.

Example: Compare "a well-known artist" vs "the artist is well known" - hyphen before the noun, none after the verb.
Example: If "time consuming" after the noun reads like "time is consuming," write "time-consuming task."

Examples and common mistakes (work, school, casual)

Copy the corrected forms directly into emails, reports, essays, or posts. Examples grouped by context.

Work - Wrong: We hired a well known architect to redesign the office.
Work - Right: We hired a well-known architect to redesign the office.
Work - Wrong: This is a long term contract with quarterly reviews.
Work - Right: This is a long-term contract with quarterly reviews.
Work - Wrong: Please send a user friendly report to the client.
Work - Right: Please send a user-friendly report to the client.
Work - Wrong: They're looking for a 10 year plan to improve sales.
Work - Right: They're looking for a 10-year plan to improve sales.
School - Wrong: I wrote a tailor made essay for the competition.
School - Right: I wrote a tailor-made essay for the competition.
School - Wrong: The lab experiment was time consuming and tedious.
School - Right: The lab experiment was time-consuming and tedious.
School - Wrong: She has a part time job after classes.
School - Right: She has a part-time job after classes.
Casual - Wrong: I bought a brand new phone yesterday.
Casual - Right: I bought a brand-new phone yesterday.
Casual - Wrong: We need a long lasting battery for the hike.
Casual - Right: We need a long-lasting battery for the hike.
Casual - Wrong: That was a last minute decision and it backfired.
Casual - Right: That was a last-minute decision and it backfired.
Wrong: He is a small business owner who works weekends.
Right: He is a small-business owner who works weekends.
Wrong: We launched a state of the art design last quarter.
Right: We launched a state-of-the-art design last quarter.
Wrong: She became self employed after college.
Right: She became self-employed after college.

Fix your sentence: ready-to-use rewrites

If style guides vary or you want to avoid hyphen questions, change the sentence so the modifier doesn't sit before the noun.

Rewrite: I had a suit tailor-made for my birthday.
Rewrite: The task took a long time to complete. (instead of "a time-consuming task")
Rewrite: Write "an interface that's easy to use" instead of "a user-friendly interface."
Rewrite: She works part time. (use after a verb to avoid hyphenation)
Rewrite: We agreed on a plan that will last ten years. (instead of "a 10-year plan")
Rewrite: The phone is brand new. (removes modifier-before-noun structure)

Real usage and tone: when hyphens matter more

Hyphens carry more weight in formal writing-resumes, client emails, academic work-because they signal precision. In casual chat, readers forgive omissions unless a missing hyphen creates an odd image.

Be consistent: choose the hyphenation approach your team or publisher follows and apply it across the document.

Resumes/reports/papers: hyphenate compound adjectives before nouns.
Chat/social media: hyphens optional unless omission confuses the meaning.
When collaborating, follow the applicable style guide for edge cases.

Memory tricks and quick checks

Three quick checks catch most errors: move, ask, listen.

Move: Put the phrase after the noun. If meaning changes, hyphenate before the noun.
Ask: Does the phrase answer "what kind of" before the noun? If yes, hyphen.
Listen: If omission creates a temporary absurd image, add the hyphen.

Usage: Test "a small business owner" vs "the owner is small" - hyphenate when you mean owner of a small business: "small-business owner."

Similar mistakes to watch for

Avoid mixing up hyphens and dashes, don't hyphenate -ly adverbs with adjectives, and remember compounds can evolve to closed or open forms (email vs real estate).

Hyphen ≠ en dash ≠ em dash: use each for its purpose.
Do not hyphenate adverb + adjective when the adverb ends in -ly (a clearly written note).
Some compounds become single words over time-check your dictionary or style guide.

Wrong: The meeting is scheduled for 9am-10am.
Right: The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m.-10 a.m. (use proper punctuation or an en dash for ranges).
Wrong: She is a deeply-held believer.
Right: She holds a deeply held belief. (don't hyphenate adverb + adjective)
Wrong: He bought an e-mail list.
Right: He bought an email list. (many compounds are closed now)

FAQ

When should I hyphenate "time-consuming"?

Hyphenate when it comes before the noun: a time-consuming task. If it follows the noun or a linking verb, many guides allow no hyphen: The task was time consuming. Keep the hyphen if omission confuses meaning.

Do I hyphenate "well known" or not?

Use a hyphen before a noun: a well-known actor. After a verb, no hyphen is usually needed: The actor is well known.

Is "part time" hyphenated?

Before a noun, hyphenate: a part-time job. After the verb, writers often leave it open: He works part time.

How do I decide between hyphen, en dash, and em dash?

Hyphen joins compound words. En dash shows ranges or connections (dates, place connections in some styles). Em dash sets off clauses. Don't use dashes as hyphens.

Can I avoid hyphens by rewriting sentences?

Yes. Move the modifier after the noun, use a verb phrase, or add "that is" or "which is" to make the relationship explicit and avoid hyphen questions.

Want a quick second pair of eyes?

If a sentence still feels unsure, run a quick grammar check that flags compound-modifier issues or rewrite so the modifier follows the noun. For formal documents, follow your organization's style guide and keep usage consistent.