LanguageTool Community
Imprint · Privacy Policy
<< return to list of rules

Rule "Missing hyphens in compounds"

This is one of many errors that LanguageTool can detect.

Description: Missing hyphens in compounds
Message: When a number forms part of an adjectival compound, use hyphens.
Category: Punctuation (ID: PUNCTUATION)
Link: https://languagetool.org/insights/post/hyphen/#compound-adjectives-with-hyphens
Incorrect sentences
that this rule can detect:
  • Rudolph is a two year old reindeer.
    Correction suggestion: two-year-old
  • She is an adorable 29 year old cat.
    Correction suggestion: 29-year-old
Correct sentences
for comparison:
  • Rudolph is two years old.
  • Rudolph is two years old actually
  • It is located one hour's drive from Barcelona.
ID: MISSING_HYPHEN [1]
Version: 6.8-SNAPSHOT (2025-10-27 22:33:07 +0100)