A Quick Hyphenation Tip

March 31st, 2008 Dina at Wordfeeder.com

I’ve noticed that quite a few people hyphenate when quantifying units of time. I’m not sure why they do it. But it’s wrong.

Here are some examples of what NOT to do when describing a unit or units of time in your writing:

INCORRECT: How difficult is it to roll out of bed 15-minutes earlier than usual?

CORRECT: How difficult is it to roll out of bed 15 minutes earlier than usual?

INCORRECT: I’ve been managing a copywriting business for more than 12-years.

CORRECT: I’ve been managing a copywriting business for more than 12 years.

Let’s put it into perspective. Suppose the sentence read:

I’ve been managing a copywriting business with more than 12 people.

You’ll notice there’s no hyphen there. “More than 12 years” and “more than 12 people” function in the same exact way here. How many years? Twelve. How many people? Twelve. No need for a hyphen.

I’ve been managing a copywriting business for more than 12 years.

I think the confusion may come in because people are used to hyphenating ages. For example:

What do you expect from a 12-year-old boy?

This gets hyphenated because “twelve,” “year” and “old” are three words that work together as an adjective that describes “boy.”

(There’s an official term for this. If some word nerd wants to come by and clarifying it for me, be my guest! All I know is that the right side of my brain loves to break down the logistics of hyphenation and I don’t need the exact name of the rule to know why things work as they do.)

Now, when IS it appropriate to use a hyphen in the above examples? If the number and the unit of time function as an adjective describing a noun.

CORRECT: She runs a 12-year copywriting business. (This is a lame sentence but it serves the purpose well here.)

CORRECT: I’m going to get a 15-minute head start on my morning today. (”Fifteen” and “minute” modify start.)

Many people just ignore hyphens because hey, this is the web, and you know, “creative license.”

But if one wants to appear professional, it never hurts to brush up on one’s hyphenation skills.

- Dina at Wordfeeder.com Copywriting and Marketing

Popularity: 14% [?]

Posted in Grammar Issues, Proofreader, Punctuation Peeves |

4 Responses to “A Quick Hyphenation Tip”

1. The Masked Millionaire Says:
   March 31st, 2008 at 7:43 pm

   I love when you correct us Dina. I feel like I’m back in school and have been sent to detention. Oh the good old days.

   I can remember 2-times before this that you have pointed out errors that were made when writing in an unprofessional manner.

   From Las Vegas
   The Masked Millionaire Has Spoken

2. Dina at Wordfeeder.com Says:
   April 11th, 2008 at 6:47 am

   Masked Mill,

   I’m sorry to hear that you got detention for grammar mistakes. I don’t know what kind of school you went to, but that’s just wrong.

   Dina

3. janet Says:
   September 26th, 2008 at 1:46 am

   (There’s an official term for this. If some word nerd wants to come by and clarifying it for me, be my guest! All I know is that the right side of my brain loves to break down the logistics of hyphenation and I don’t need the exact name of the rule to know why things work as they do.)

   In the above copy, the word “clarifying” is incorrect! thanks, Janet

4. dina@wordfeeder.com Says:
   September 26th, 2008 at 5:08 am

   Janet!

   Thanks for pointing it out. So helpful.

   You forgot to capitalize the “J” in your first name. And you also forgot to cap the “t” in “thanks,” in your closing.

   Ohhh!

   Thanks for stopping by.

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