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Hyphens with Numbers

Should you write 13-feet or 13 feet? Here is the rule: when you’re combining two or more words to form a compound adjective in front of a noun, put hyphens between these words.

Examples:
Lara handed me a 15-foot pole.
An 18-inch monitor is too big for my desk.
Emergency room nurses work 12-hour shifts.
Anthony swung his five-pound hammer.

In the above sentences, the measurements are compound adjectives describing nouns.

When numbers are used as nouns, don’t use a hyphen.

Examples:
Suzanne won the race by a solid 15 feet.
The room was 17 feet long.
Twelve hours later, he was exhausted.
Anthony’s hammer weighs five pounds.

To learn more about hyphens, click here.

Pop Quiz

Correct or incorrect?

1. Stella had her hair cut six-inches last week.

2. Her party shoes had three inch heels.

3. Can you lend me your 5-foot tape measure?

4. I am 5-feet-2-inches in my bare feet.

5. The water level rose 10-inches in just three hours.

Pop Quiz Answers

1. Stella had her hair cut six inches last week.

2. Her party shoes had three-inch heels.

3. Can you lend me your 5-foot tape measure? (Correct)

4. I am 5 feet 2 inches in my bare feet.

5. The water level rose 10 inches in just three hours.

Posted on Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 at 10:45 am

2 Comments

2 Responses to “Hyphens with Numbers”

  1. Cathy S says:
    August 25, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    What is the proper way to write the numbers and compound adjectives in the following sentence?
    The site consists of a 5,010 square foot parcel that is occupied by a 15,030 square foot commerical building that was built in 1920.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jane says:
      August 26, 2011 at 7:59 pm

      My blog on “Numbers as Adjectives” addresses this issue. The rule says, “Generally, hyphenate between two or more adjectives when they come before a noun and act as a single idea. This rule can also be applied when a number and a measurement unit taken together form an adjective, that is, when they describe another object.”
      Examples:
      A 22-inch monitor is too big for my desk.
      Nurses work 12-hour shifts.

      Therefore, the proper way to write the sentence would be:

      The site consists of a 5,010-square-foot parcel that is occupied by a 15,030-square-foot commerical building that was built in 1920.

      Reply

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