Correct way to write...

[sfyn2it]

Good morning,
I am writing some college entrance essays and wasn't sure if I should write "out of the box" or "out-of-the-box". Similarly, is it trial and error or trial-and-error.

I wrote trial and error and out of the box but an old friend who reviewed my essays suggested the alternatives with hyphens.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rover_KE]

'His thinking was out of the box'. 'He was well-known for his out-of-the-box thinking.'

Use the hyphens when the phrase is used adjectivally before the noun.

'Trial and error' is never hyphenated.

Rover

 

[sfyn2it]

'His thinking was out of the box'. 'He was well-known for his out-of-the-box thinking.'

Use the hyphens when the phrase is used adjectivally before the noun.

'Trial and error' is never hyphenated.

Rover

Thank you!

 

[Rover_KE]

Your thanks are appreciated, but instead of sending them in a separate message and quoting our replies back to us, just click the Like button, please.

The reason is that it is flagged as a new post, so we think you might have a follow-up question or something to add. Those of us with slow internet connections and/or old computers have to waste valuable time waiting for it to appear.

Thank you.

Rover:-D