hyphenated adjectives
TRANSCRIPT
Hyphenated AdjectivesUsing multiple adjectives for clarity
Prepared by Logan Aimone University of Chicago Laboratory High School
2017
lily-livered sign-waving
school-to-work
Definition
At times writers will use commas to punctuate a series of adjectives before a noun when these adjectives are separate and independent of each other. When two or more words are combined to form a compound adjective, a hyphen is usually required (like lily-livered, sign-waving, school-to-work).
Rule: Frequently associated
When two or more words that are frequently associated are used as adjectives, they are not hyphenated. • high school • grade point average
Rule: Adverbs
Adverbs modifying adjectives are not hyphenated. • usually hot • very smart • well done
Rule: A-N or N-N
Use a hyphen if the term used is an adjective-noun or noun-noun construction and is ambiguous and unfamiliar. • 20-page report • high-speed train • small-business owner? (may be optional) • high school curriculum
Rule: Multiple adjectives
When two or more words of a part of speech modify another word used as an adjective, the words must be hyphenated to that adjective. • at-bat average • fire-engine-red Mercedes • tough-as-nails personality
Rule: Equal-force adjectives
Use commas to present adjectives that modify with equal force unless they are joined by conjunctions. • spicy, tangy flavor • spicy-yet-tangy flavor
Rule: Repetitive
Use a hyphen and space to show adjectives that modify the same adjective. • 30- to 40-foot drop • but: near-to-total failure
Hyphenated Adjectives
Let’s practice these new-to-you skills!
Practice
Identify each adjective and ask yourself which word it modifies. Do your best. Hyphenate where appropriate. Commas may be necessary to separate compound adjectives.
Practice
a pop and candy machine a pop-and-candy machine
Hyphenated Adjectives
Try some more…
Practice
a basketball play calling chart
Practice
those mean spirited freshman seeking seniors
Practice
mellow Mountain Dew powered journalism writing machines
Practice
above the fold news story
Practice
victory starved crazed Maroon fans
Practice
bring a three to five foot streamer to wiggle at the less than inspiring team
Practice
a student funded all expense paid senior trip
Practice
write a 750 to 1,000 word article on free press rights
Practice
a two for the price of one offer at the student and teacher organized BSA and ASA activity
Hyphenated Adjectives
How’d you do?
Practice
a basketball play calling chart a basketball play-calling chart
Practice
those mean spirited freshman seeking seniors those mean-spirited, freshman-seeking seniors
Practice
mellow Mountain Dew powered journalism writing machines mellow, Mountain Dew-powered, journalism-writing machines
Practice
above the fold news story above-the-fold news story
Practice
victory starved crazed Maroon fans victory-starved, crazed Maroon fans
Practice
bring a three to five foot streamer to wiggle at the less than inspiring team bring a three- to five-foot streamer to wiggle at the less-than-inspiring team
Practice
a student funded all expense paid senior trip a student-funded, all-expense-paid senior trip
Practice
write a 750 to 1,000 word article on free press rights write a 750- to 1,000-word article on free press rights
Practice
a two for the price of one offer at the student and teacher organized BSA and ASA activity a two-for-the-price-of-one offer at the student- and teacher-organized BSA-and-ASA activity