Hyphenating Numbers with Fractions
How to Hyphenate Numbers with Fractions
Here are the rules for hyphenating whole numbers and numbers with fractions.Do Not Use Hyphens with Numbers Used as Quantifiers
When the number is a quantifier to a noun, do not use a hyphen. In these examples, the numbers are highlighted and the nouns are in bold.- The journey takes two hours.
- The journey takes two and a half hours.
- The journey takes twenty-three and a quarter hours. (In this example, "twenty-three" is hyphenated because that's how 23 is written in full.)
- The journey takes 23.25 hours.
- The journey takes one and three-quarter hours. (Here, "three-quarter" is hyphenated because that's how a fraction is written in full.)
Use Hyphens with Numbers Used in Adjectives
When the number is the first part of a compound adjective, use hyphens to group the whole adjective together to show it is a single adjective. In these examples, the compound adjectives that include the numbers are highlighted and the nouns are in bold.- It is a two-hour journey.
- It is a two-and-a-half-hour journey.
- It is a twenty-three-and-a-quarter-hour journey.
- It is a 23.25-hour journey.
- It is a one-and-three-quarter-hour journey.
Hyphenating Terms with the Word "Year"
Writers often ask about hyphenation with terms that include "year." Here are the three main rules in the context of the word "year":(1) Hyphenate All the Words in a Compound Noun
The term "two-year-old" is a multi-word noun (called a compound noun.) Here are some more examples of compound nouns with the term "year old" (the compound nouns are highlighted).- A two-year-old knows its mind.
- There are three two-year-olds in the group.
- A four-and-a-half-year-old knows its mind.
- There are three four-and-a-half-year-olds in the group.
- He claims to have seen a six-and-a-half-footer near the breakwater.
(2) Do Not Hyphenate a quantifier
Remember that there are no hyphens when the number is used as a quantifier, and this includes when the number quantifies the noun "year." In these examples, the numbers are highlighted and the nouns are in bold:- She studied for four years.
- She studied for four and a half years.
(3) Hyphenate All the Words in a Compound Adjective
Numbers used in compound adjectives are hyphenated, and this includes when the compound adjective includes the word "year." In these examples, the compound adjectives are highlighted and the nouns are in bold:- She studied for a four-year period.
- She studied for a four-and-a-half-year period.
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