Hyphen with Numbers


There are several rules explaining the necessity to hyphenate numbers and which should be learned by each and every native speaker and student learning English as a foreign language. Familiarization and mastering this important grammatical chapter helps not only to avoid the unclear content of a certain piece of writing but shows a person’s profound knowledge of English grammar. When is it obligatory to hyphenate numbers and in what cases is it irrelevant? Learn below.

Numbers as a Part of a Compound Adjective
There are two ways of using a number as a part of a compound adjective preceding a noun:
if a compound adjective consists of two or more words, first of which is a number, the hyphen is necessary. For example: “2-hour speech”, “the second-time attempt”, “four-pound pan” and etc;
if a compound adjective consists of two or more words and the number is the second word, we don’t put any hyphen. For example: “Type 2 Conditional”, “number one master class” and etc.

Numbers Aren’t a Part of a Compound Adjective
The hyphen isn’t placed if numbers aren’t a part of a compound adjective followed by a noun. For example: “the speech lasted two hours”, “the frying pan weights four pounds” and etc.

Compound Numbers

  • You have to put the hyphen between any number which consists of two words. This rule concern numbers starting from 21 (twenty-one) to 99 (ninety-nine) excluding such numbers as 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 as they consist of one single word. For example: “fifty-five bottles”, “thirty-two friends” and etc.
  • Round numbers that are higher than 99 (ninety-nine) have to be written without the hyphen. For example: “one hundred”, “twelve million”, “three billion” and etc. BUT the number 571 has to be written in the following way “five hundred and seventy-one”, 87000 has to be spelled like “eighty-seven thousand” and etc.

Numbers that Are Used to Describe Someone’s Age
To talk about someone’s age it is required to use the hyphen with numbers. For example: “My three-year-old son started to talk”. Pay attention to the fact that “three-year-old” is the compound adjective describing the noun “son”.

Numbers Used while Talking about the Span of the Time
Finally, there is no need in putting the hyphen with numbers when we are talking about the span of the time. For example: “I’ve stayed in Florida for four months”.

Did it get any better with our explanation above? Hopefully yes!! Leave your comments or questions in case you have any additional information concerning the grammatical topic called Hyphens with Numbers in English. Every student must complete dozens of papers to meet his or her professor’s requirements. Due to the growing number of written assignments, such as an essay on corruption, students have to be fast but thorough in their writing process. Whenever you need express essays, ask our expert essay writers for help. Get smarter!

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