Hyphen Rule

[The French]

Dear teachers,

I would like to know the rule about the use of hyphens.

Someone in this site, I think it's a Canadian person told me that we use hyphen when a reader can make a confusion between the function of the use of a noun like an adjective and a real adjective.

Indeed my mind is not very clear for you , you knowledge can surely enlighten my brain.

Thanks for all your replies.

The Frenchies guy, who still try to improve his level.

[Barb_D]

Hi,
Here's one rule that will work for you in MOST situations.

If the phrase comes immediately before the noun, use a hyphen, unless the first word is an -ly adjective:

• A well-read person.
• A light-blue car.
• A part-time student.
• But: A happily married couple.

Do NOT use the hyphen for those same words when they do not come before the noun:

• I enjoy talking to people who are well read.
• My new car is light blue.
• She attends school part time.

[The French]

Hello Barb_D,

If I understand the rule, if the compound (adjective+ adjective or noun + noun) comes before the noun that they complete or give us information about it, we need to write it with hyphen.

Am I in the right way?

Cordially,

[Excalibur]

Think of it this way:
With the sentence...

"A well read person", is it a 'well person' who is also 'a read person?
compare
A tall, overweight man: a man who is tall and who is also overweight.

'well' modifies 'read', not person: a well-read person

A light, blue car: a car that is not big and heavy, and that is painted blue.
compare
light-blue : not mid-blue, not dark-blue

The hyphen indicates to the reader that the first part modifies the adjective ('blue'), not the noun ('car')

A ridiculous sentence, but...: A well dressed person = a healthy person who is not naked.
A well-dressed person: a person who is wearing smart or fashionable clothes.

[konungursvia]

Taught him everything he knows.