M1-a Use a hyphen to join compound adjectives that precede nouns.

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M1-a Use a hyphen to join compound adjectives that precede nouns.

compound adjective An adjective formed from two or more words that function as a unit.

Before Noun After Noun
after-school activities activities after school
well-known athlete athlete who is well known

When a compound adjective precedes a noun, the hyphen clarifies that the compound functions as a unit.

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When two different prefixes or initial words go with the same second word, use a hyphen and a space at the end of the first prefix or word.

Note: Some compound adjectives are nearly always hyphenated, before or after a noun, including those beginning with all- or self-. Check a dictionary if you are not sure whether a hyphen is needed.

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adverb A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

adjective A word that modifies a noun or a pronoun, adding information about it.

participle A verb form showing present tense (dancing, freezing) or past tense (danced, frozen) that can also act as an adjective.

A compound with an -ly adverb preceding an adjective or a participle is always left as two words.