Question

Which sentence correctly uses a hyphen in a compound modifier?

My little sister was well-behaved throughout the entire ride.
The supplies that you brought were much-needed.
A newly-married couple moved into the apartment across the hall.
Enrique’s dream is to become a full-time singer.

Answer 1

Sentences 1 and 4.

- "My little sister was well-behaved…" — "well‑behaved" is a standard compound adjective and is correctly hyphenated.
- "Enrique’s dream is to become a full‑time singer." — "full‑time" is correctly hyphenated before the noun "singer."

Notes on the others:
- "The supplies that you brought were much-needed." — Hyphenation is unnecessary after a linking verb; write "were much needed." Use "much‑needed supplies" if the modifier precedes a noun.
- "A newly-married couple…" — Don’t hyphenate adverbs ending in -ly: write "a newly married couple."