Does Years Old Have A Hyphen: A Punctuation Dilemma Explained

When using the phrase “year old,” it should be hyphenated when it serves as a compound modifier for a noun. For example, in the sentence, “My ten-year-old computer takes five minutes to boot up,” the hyphen is used to indicate that “ten-year-old” is describing the computer’s age. Similarly, in “A six-year-old doughnut is no longer edible,” the hyphen is employed to convey that the doughnut is six years old. In cases where “year old” does not modify a noun or does not come before a noun, no hyphen is necessary. So, the rule is to hyphenate “year old” when it functions as an adjective describing a noun’s age.

When specifying someone’s age within a compound adjective that modifies a noun, it is essential to hyphenate the age. It’s worth noting that this hyphenated modification should come before the noun it describes. For instance, consider the sentence: “The art show is designed for students who are 12 years old and younger.” This usage clarifies the age range of the students attending the art show.