Posts Tagged ‘ compound ’

Hyphenating adjectives

Mar 18th, 2009 | By John Roach | Category: Grammar

photo credit: bettyx1138
Adjectives are tricky little buggers. While usually limited to modifying nouns and pronouns, they sometimes modify other adjectives as part of compound adjectives. These compounds should be hyphenated when they appear before the noun or pronoun they modify, and unhyphenated when they appear after it. For example:
John is a second-rate dancer.
but
As a [...]



12 plural compounds you’re probably getting wrong

Aug 1st, 2008 | By John Roach | Category: Grammar

Don’t just stick an s at the end of these!

Attorneys general
Courts-martial
Mothers-in-law
Boards of Education
Rights-of-way
Culs-de-sac
Chiefs of Staff
Passers-by
Men-of-war
Heirs apparent
Notaries public.
Runners-up