Hyphenated compound words

Hyphenated compound words are the ones – obviously – with the hyphen in between the words. These words are still evolving into full-fledged compound words. In some places, they may already be written as a closed compound word, so you should check the dictionary if you’re not sure (although it’s better to use a hyphen than the leave it out). Hyphenated compound words are the ones which give creative writers the freedom to create a new English word from two or three old ones.

Mother-in-law

Master-at-arms

Editor-in-chief

Ten-year-old

Factory-made

Twelve-pack