Hyphens with compound modifiers

Hyphens help readers recognize and connect modifers working together before a noun.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: The researchers conducted a subject by subject analysis of adverse events in the patient population. Revised sentence: The researchers conducted a subject-by-subject analysis of adverse events in the patient population.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: A two way survey of variance identified cohort group as an influential variable. Revised sentence: A two-way survey of variance identified cohort group as an influential variable.

Generally, do not use a hyphen when such compounds follow the noun.

Do not use a hyphen to connect -ly adverbs to the words they modify.

NOTE:In a series, hyphens are suspended (left open) until the final word in the compound modifier.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Do you prefer first, second, or third class tickets? Revised sentence: Do you prefer first-, second-, or third-class tickets?

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: The subjects experienced deficiencies in both short and long term recall. Revised sentence: The subjects experienced deficiencies in both short- and long-term recall.

Exercise: The hyphen