Question

Diamond makes many arguments in “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race” that are not reasonable or well supported.

Does well supported have a hyphen in it or not? Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes. Well-supported needs a hyphen because it's used as an adjective.

Answer 2

But isn't well an adverb? Isn't well answering how it is supported? Well.

Answer 3

<i>Well</i> is an adverb modifying the adjective <i>supported</i>.

However, my first advice is wrong. I'm sorry. In this sentence <i>well supported</i> does not need a hyphen.

A word such as <i>well supported</i> only needs a hyphen when it comes before the noun. A hyphen isn't needed when the adjective comes after the noun it modifies.

Check this site for more information.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_hyphen.html

Answer 4

Are you sure though because it is possible for adjectives to go after the noun.

There was a blue sky. (blue as an adjective is before sky as a noun)

The sky is blue. (blue adjective is after sky noun)

Answer 5

Ms. Sue is correct. The word "well" in this sentence is an adverb modifying the adjective (participle, actually) "supported" -- no hyphen is needed.

=)