Learning English Vocabulary Hyphenation
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Mar 9, 2026 Clear rules for using hyphens in compound adjectives, numbers, and age expressions. Examples include adjective+ing forms, well-respected, and three-word compounds like out-of-date. Tips on when hyphens are needed before nouns and when to check the dictionary for compound nouns. A short quiz and advice on spotting compound forms while reading.
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Hard Working Hyphenation Rule
- Compound adjectives often combine an adjective/adverb and a present participle to form one descriptive word.
- Neil uses hard-working as the example, explaining it means people who work hard and is written with a hyphen before a noun.
Hyphenate Ages And Number Descriptors Before Nouns
- When writing ages or number-based descriptors before a noun, use hyphens to join the parts.
- Catherine gives 18-year-old and a two-door car as examples and notes no hyphens are needed when the age follows the noun (18 years old).
Hyphenate Compound Numbers 21 To 99
- Always hyphenate compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine when they appear as words.
- Neil states the rule succinctly as a reminder while discussing numeric compounds in adjectives.