Compound Adjectives
Quick answer
A compound adjective is made from two or more words that work together to describe a noun, such as kind-hearted or open-minded.
Examples of compound adjectives
| Compound adjective | Example phrase |
|---|---|
| kind-hearted | a kind-hearted neighbor |
| cold-hearted | a cold-hearted response |
| warm-hearted | a warm-hearted welcome |
| open-minded | an open-minded discussion |
Hyphen rule
Many compound adjectives use a hyphen before the noun they describe: 'a well-known author'.
When the same words come after a linking verb, the hyphen is sometimes dropped: 'The author is well known'.
Common mistakes
- Do not hyphenate every pair of describing words automatically.
- Do not let a missing hyphen make the meaning unclear.
- Check whether the words are acting together as one adjective before a noun.
Mini exercise
- Add the hyphen: a long term plan. Answer: a long-term plan.
- Add the hyphen: a cold hearted character. Answer: a cold-hearted character.
- Decide if a hyphen is needed: The plan is long term. Answer: often no hyphen after the verb.
Before the noun vs. after the noun
Compound adjectives are most often hyphenated when they come before the noun: a well-known singer, a long-term plan, a cold-hearted reply. The hyphen shows that the words work together as one idea.
After the noun, the hyphen is often unnecessary: the singer is well known, the plan is long term. Some compounds stay hyphenated in many dictionaries, so clarity matters more than a rigid rule.
| Before the noun | After the noun |
|---|---|
| a kind-hearted person | the person is kind-hearted |
| a long-term project | the project is long term |
| a well-known story | the story is well known |
| an open-minded reader | the reader is open-minded |
When hyphens prevent confusion
Hyphens are useful when a reader might connect the wrong words. A 'small business owner' may mean an owner of a small business, not a physically small owner. A 'small-business owner' makes the intended meaning clearer.
Good compound adjectives help the reader understand the noun quickly without rereading the phrase.
Final summary
A compound adjective turns two or more words into one describing idea. Many compounds are hyphenated before a noun because the hyphen tells readers to understand the words together. The best test is clarity: if a hyphen prevents confusion, use it.
For personality words, compound adjectives such as kind-hearted, open-minded, and cold-hearted can be especially useful because they pack a full character description into one compact phrase.