Hyphen in Compound Adjectives After a Noun
The Hyphen
Rulebase Summary
When a compound adjective follows the noun it modifies and sits after a linking verb (is, are, was, were, seems, becomes), the hyphen is generally dropped. This is the predicate-adjective position, and it is governed by the rule — not by the dictionary. A dictionary entry that shows a compound adjective as hyphenated (full-time, part-time, long-term, short-term) reflects only the direct-adjective (before-noun) form. It does not override the predicate-position rule. So 'a full-time position' takes the hyphen, but 'the position is full time' drops it; 'a short-term contract' takes the hyphen, but 'the contract was short term' drops it.
Three categories of compound adjectives keep the hyphen in any position: 1. Adjective-plus-noun-plus-ed compounds (middle-aged, heart-shaped, left-handed, short-handed) 2. Established always-hyphenated compounds (tax-free, price-cutting, up-to-date in any position) 3. Range, rhyme, or repeated-word one-thought modifiers (hush-hush, give-and-take, go-go)
Adverb position is separate from predicate-adjective position. When a compound is listed in the dictionary as a hyphenated adverb (for example, full-time, part-time) and appears after an action verb, keep the hyphen: 'he travels full-time,' 'she consults part-time.' Used as a noun or concept ('full time is 40 hours'), no hyphen — the dictionary does not list a noun form for these words.
Examples
A. The report was well-documented.
A. The report was well documented.
Most compound adjectives drop the hyphen when they follow the noun.
Q. Would you say she is left handed?
Q. Would you say she is left-handed?
Adjective-noun-ed compounds keep the hyphen in any position.
A. They told me the position was full-time.
A. They told me the position was full time.
After a linking verb ('was'), the compound is a predicate adjective and drops the hyphen. The dictionary entry for 'full-time' covers only the direct-adjective position.
A. He has been traveling full time for the carrier since March.
A. He has been traveling full-time for the carrier since March.
After an action verb ('traveling'), full-time functions as an adverb. The dictionary lists the adverb form with a hyphen, so keep it.
Q. The contract you signed with them was short-term?
Q. The contract you signed with them was short term?
Predicate-adjective position after 'was' — drop the hyphen, even though 'short-term' appears hyphenated in the dictionary as a direct adjective.
A. In my opinion the build-out is high-quality.
A. In my opinion the build-out is high quality.
After the linking verb 'is,' the compound adjective drops the hyphen. Before a noun ('a high-quality build-out') it would take the hyphen.
Transcript Notes
If the compound adjective combines an adjective, a noun, and 'ed,' the hyphen is used in any position (middle-aged, heart-shaped, left-handed). Some compound adjectives like price-cutting and tax-free retain the hyphen after the noun as well.
Position-based decision chart for common compound modifiers (full-time, part-time, long-term, short-term, high-quality, low-cost): - Before a noun (direct adjective): hyphen — 'a full-time position,' 'a short-term contract,' 'a high-quality exhibit' - After a linking verb (predicate adjective): no hyphen — 'the position is full time,' 'the contract was short term,' 'the exhibit is high quality' - After an action verb (adverb) when the dictionary lists a hyphenated adverb form: hyphen — 'he travels full-time,' 'she consults part-time' - As a noun or concept: no hyphen — 'full time is 40 hours'
The dictionary governs only the direct-adjective form (and the adverb form, where listed). It does not settle predicate-adjective placement — the rule does. Many reporters hyphenate these compounds in all positions for consistency because the distinctions are subtle; follow the reporter's preference and flag only flagrant errors. If the reporter has no stated preference, the rule-based approach is: hyphen before a noun, open after a linking verb, hyphen after an action verb only when the dictionary lists the adverb form with a hyphen.
Style Guide References (2)
Morson's
BGGP