How to use hyphens with adjectives? How hyphens change the meaning of a sentence in a research paper

Опубликовано: 08 Март 2025
на канале: University English Hub

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How to use hyphens with adjectives? How hyphens change the meaning of a sentence in a research paper.

Watch all of our videos on punctuation in research writing: https://bit.ly/3FSC1M3

=====CHAPTERS=====

0:00 Introduction to how to use hyphens correctly in adjectives
0:26 When to use hyphens in an adjective
1:31 Examples of compound adjectives in research papers
1:48 Hyphen usage can change meaning within a sentence.

=====SCRIPT OF VIDEO=====

Hello, everyone! This is Emily from uni-edit answering today's question about writing research papers: why do I sometimes need hyphens in adjectives? This video will be approximately three minutes long.

Let us begin by reviewing when to use hyphens in an adjective. Compound adjectives are two or more words put together that make an adjective. Our example is long-term. Long and term are two words functioning as one adjective thus the hyphen. When a compound adjective is placed directly before a noun, they're known as compound modifiers and usually have a hyphen like our example long-term relationship.

In the first sentence, we see a correctly hyphenated compound adjective. The long (hyphen) term relationship has lasted for over a decade. However, if the compound adjective comes after the noun, they do not need a hyphen. Our example is their relationship was long term. Notice there is no hyphen since the modifier comes after the noun.

A few additional examples of correctly used compound adjectives for academic writing include: high-tensile steel, short-term solution, fire-proof clothing.

There are times that hyphen usage can change meaning within a sentence. Let's take a
look at an example of when this might occur. As you can see, in this sentence, a light green suitcase is pale in color the compound adjective light-green is hyphenated. This is emphasis on the suitcase being not only green but a light shade of green. Again the hyphen indicates the color of the suitcase. Now notice this sentence which reads a light green suitcase is not heavy.

There is no hyphen between light and green because light refers to the weight of the suitcase and green being color. These are separate descriptions of the suitcase. It is both easy to carry (a reference to the weight) and green. Therefore no hyphen is needed.

We hope you enjoyed this tip. Once again, this is Emily from uni-edit. Have a wonderful day.

=====PLAYLISTS=====

Punctuation in research writing https://bit.ly/3FSC1M3
Grammar in research writing https://bit.ly/3pPFhlO

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