Compound Adjectives In English - Etd Apr 2026

Use a hyphen if the adjective comes before the word it’s describing. Example: "We conducted a well-structured interview."

Distinguish between a "small-scale business" (referring to size) and a "small scale business" (which could confusingly mean a business that sells tiny scales). Compound Adjectives in English - Etd

Check your university’s specific style guide (). While the general rules above apply to most, some guides have quirky preferences for specific terms like "socio-economic" vs. "socioeconomic." Use a hyphen if the adjective comes before