American Grammar Checkup: More on Hyphens

Take a look at the four examples below. Do you see which ones are wrong, which ones are right, and which ones might be right, depending on context?

• I saw a man eating fish. I saw a man-eating fish.
• We attended a high level meeting. We attended a high-level meeting.
• They built four level townhomes. They built four-level townhomes.
• There are only three year-old kids in the room. There are only three-year-old kids in the room.

Because the rules for using hyphens to connect words can seem complicated, I'd like to at least show you why the ones above WITH the hyphens are correct, at least in two instances. 

If two or more words function as a complete thought by themselves and come in front a noun, all the relevant words MUST be connected to alert the reader to the thought.

In #1, the first sentence says you saw a man who was eating fish. The second one says you saw a fish known to be a killer. So both versions could be right, depending on the context.

In #2, the first sentence says the meeting was level (as opposed to crooked). The second one says it was an important meeting. The second would likely be the preferred choice.

In #3, the first sentence says the builder built a quantity of four level (as opposed to crooked) townhomes. The second one says the builder build townhomes with four levels. Again, I vote for the second sentence.

In #4, the question is about the number and age of the kids. The first sentence says there is are kids who are a year old. The second sentence says there are several kids who are three years old. Which is right? Depends entirely on context.

And to complicate matters a little, with ages we sometimes DO hyphenate and sometimes DON'T. But there is a clear rule for each.

Hyphenate ages (ALL three words) when they come before a noun or stand in for a noun.

Amy is a four-year-old child.

Amy is a beautiful and adorable four-year-old child.

Amy is a four-year-old.

Amy is a beautiful and adorable four-year-old.

Drop the hyphens when words that are related to time are used as in the sentences shown below.

• Amy is four minutes old.
• Amy is four days old.
• Amy is four weeks old.
• Amy is four years old.
• Amy is four decades old.
• Our company has been around for more than 10 years.
• Our company has been in business for just one year.
• I've only worked here for six weeks.

As always, if you have any questions, please ask me! I'm here to help.

For more on hyphens, please visit my website -- www.GrammarGoddess.com -- and type "hyphens" into the search box.

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