The devil on my shoulder tempted me to add a hyphen jointlyowned to the compound modifier. This section covers the most common problem areas in writing mechanics. A compound modifier also called a compound adjective, phrasal adjective, or adjectival phrase is a compound of two or more attributive words. However, though all adjectives and adverbs are modifiers, not all modifiers. Because i believe that hyphens are the cause of more writing mistakes in american english than anything else. When multiple modifiers have a common base, the base can be omitted in all except the last modifier.
Hyphenated compounds motherinlaw, merrygoround not surprisingly use a hyphen between two or more words, often to prevent ambiguity. The use of the hyphen in compound modifiers search by. Open compounds school bus, living room are commonly used together but are written. When pluralizing compound words, the s is properly attached to the word thats being pluralized, though you see that more in writing than in everyday speech. Contracted verb forms in english list of contracted verb. Regular adjectives modify nouns all the time, but a compound modifier goes much further. Most compound nouns are made with nouns that have been modified by adjectives or other nouns in many compound. A compound adjective also known as a compound modifier or a phrasal adjective is created by two or more words that work jointly to modify the same noun. This means a new discount for customers, but i bet the writer meant a discount for new customers.
In many cases, such compounds are hyphenated when found before the noun they describe, but no hyphen is necessary when the compound is found in the predicate. The most annoying hyphenation mistake that i see in legal writing could very well be. Do you ever wonder when to use a hyphen with your modifier. The compoundmodifier hyphen connects and clarifies take advantage of our new customer discount. Compound modifiers are consist of two words connected by a hyphen which act together like an adjective and modify a noun compound modifiers rule. The compoundmodifier hyphen connects and clarifies legible. And thats a good thing because the presence or absence of them is one of the clearest indicators of the quality of writing and editing for a given piece. In many software programs, an emdash is created by typing two hyphens in a. Closed compounds flowerpot, keyboard, notebook, bookstore mesh two words together. Write compounds as single words no spaces between joined words when the first word of the compound receives the major stress in pronunciation. They usually consist of adjectives, but can also contain adverbs and nouns.
Dont hyphenate if the first element of the compound modifier is a comparative or superlative adjective. Capitalize the second element of a compound in a title unless its an article, a preposition, a coordinating conjunction and, but, for, or, nor or a modifier. Use of hyphens when writing repeated compound words that have common parts a bit of hard work it may be but sorry, you just have to write out. Compound modifiers when two words act together as an adjective to modify a noun, a hyphen is often used to join them. The hyphenated compound adjectives called compound modifiers are. Chicago manual of style height and weight creative. Capitalizing the elements of a compound word in a title.
His yellowgreen teeth were visible beneath a saltandpepper mustache. In many cases, such compounds are hyphenated when found before the noun they describe, but no. She is in middle school and already taking higher level math courses. The use of modifiers in legal english 1 please purchase the course before starting the lesson. The chicago manual of style addresses the question of hyphenating the second element of a compound in a title in paragraph 8. A compound modifier refers to two or more words expressing a single concept. A compound modifier is formed when multiple words come together to describe a subsequent noun. A hyphen is usually used in apa style when two or more words modify a common noun and that noun comes after the modifiers, for example, 7point scale or clientcentered counseling. A compound modifier is a string of two or more words that modify a noun. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from. The words yellow and green, and salt and pepper are adjectives modifying the nouns teeth and mustache. We add a hyphen or hyphens to the mix to clarify this, as the meaning of a sentence can sometimes. The hyphens main job is to connect two or more things that are closely. A compound modifier consists of two words connected by a hyphen, which act together like one adjective.
In english grammar, a modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that functions as an adjective or adverb to provide additional information about another word or word group called the head. Stacked modifiers often complicate your sentences needlessly. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Good legal writing should be written in plain language that is easy to read and understand and that clearly and directly communicates. Usually, compound modifier words could be understood as individual modifiers or nouns, so the hyphen is required to clarify the function of the words. Legal writing pro llc, po box 593, falls church, va, 220400593, you can revoke your consent. A modifier is a word or group of words that limits or describes another word or words.
However, when compound modifiers come after a noun, they are not hyphenated. The compoundmodifier hyphen connects and clarifies. Dont hyphenate if the second element of the compound modifier is just a letter. Some legal writers doubt the rule and say they dont see compoundmodifier hyphens in other writing. Compound nouns are words for people, animals, places, things, or ideas, made up of two or more words. The hyphenated compound adjectives called compound modifiers are where things get a little more complicated. A compound modifier is a combination of two or more words that work together to describe a noun. Some common examples of when to use compound modifiers. A modifier is a word or phrase that describes another word or phrase. The compound modifier the other day i was commissioned to translate a will into english in which the heir inherited voting rights to a jointly owned company. A compound modifier is two words, used together in a set order, which modify describe another word. However, they do not show examples of height and weight as compound modifiers before.
With these, writers need to know the rules and cant rely on a dictionary. Definition and examples of modifiers in english grammar. Since they appear before the noun, they are hyphenated. Compound modifiers are grammatically equivalent to singleword modifiers, and can be used in combination with other modifiers. Keep in mind that different writing style guides have different rules about how to use the hyphen in compound modifiers. This is that the hyphen is not an ornament but an aid to being understood, and. The hyphens main job is to connect two or more things that are. Hawking hyphens in compound modifiers duke law scholarship.
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