Link with Hyphens
Expressions like 'three-and-a-half' (as in
three-and-a-half ounces) are compound adjectives and should be hyphenated.
Examples:
 Two-and-a-half thousand (2,500)
3-and-a-quarter million (3,250,000)
one-and-a-half dozen (18)
Two and a half thousand (2,500)
(technically, 2 and 500 equal 502)
3 and a quarter million (3,250,000)
(technically, 3 and 250,000 equal 250,003)
one and a half dozen (18)
(technically, 1 and 6 equal 7)
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ADJECTIVE?
An adjective is a describing word (e.g., red, big, beautiful,
contagious). (See lesson Adjectives.)
COMPOUND ADJECTIVE?
A single adjective made up of two or more words is called a 'compound
adjective'. The words in a compound adjective are linked together by a hyphen (or hyphens) to show that they are part of the same adjective.
 three-page document (< "three-page" is a compound adjective)
ironing-board cover (< "ironing-board" is a compound adjective)
See the lesson What are
Compound Adjectives?
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