Numbers as compound adjectives

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When used a compound adjectives, expressions like 'four-and-a-quarter' and 'two-and-a-half' are hyphenated.

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)

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?

Associated lessons:

What are adjectives?
What are compound adjectives?
Hyphens in compound adjectives
How to write numbers in full
Starting sentences with numbers