Grammar girl here, today's topic is hyphens, what they are and how to use them properly.

The other day on Twitter, I wrote that I was using my noise-canceling headphones because

the wind was so loud.

In response, Jessica St. Jean asked if a hyphen should go between noise and canceling.

A hyphen would be okay there because noise and canceling are acting as a compound modifier,

modifying the word headphones.

Notice how I said it would be okay and didn't use any strong words like must hyphenate

or should hyphenate.

Although there are a few hard and fast rules for using hyphens, there are just too many

exceptions to call everything relating to hyphens a rule.

First, let's talk about what a hyphen is.

Hyphens are a look-it-up punctuation mark.

Although hyphens have several uses, we're going to focus mostly on how to use hyphens with

compound adjectives.

Hyphens and adjectives are two or more words that together make an adjective.

When they come directly before a noun, they're known as compound modifiers and usually

have a hyphen, like noise hyphen-canceling headphones.

Here are a few more examples.

They had a long-term relationship, long term is hyphenated.

The fireproof vest proved to be a great lifesaver for Santa Claus.

Fireproof is hyphenated.

But if the adjectives come after the noun, then they don't need a hyphen.

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