0

Which one is more correct?

The concert was a big success due to high demand.

The concert was a big success due to high-demand.

This article seems to suggest that you hyphenate "high" when it is placed next to an adjective, but "demand" is not an adjective.

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
7

My understanding is hyphenation would be appropriate when using "high-demand" as a conjoined adjective (e.g. "they charged more for this high-demand item than they typically would charge"); otherwise, it wouldn't be hyphenated. In the sample you supplied ("due to high demand"), "high" is an adjective modifying "demand," not a conjoined adjective modifying something else (like "item," in my sample).

Improve this answer
1
  • Good answer. And even when a hyphen is appropriate, it may be omited in less formal writing if the words and context readily convey your intended meaning. In the preceding sentence, for example, "less formal writing" would be correctly written as "less-formal writing," but anyone who recognizes that distinction would fully understand the phrase in the first place.
    – lauir
    Jan 7, 2016 at 19:28
3

For compounds of the form adjective+noun, the Chicago Manual of Style's guideline is:

Hyphenated before but not after a noun, e.g. "a middle-class neighborhood" vs "the neighborhood is middle class"

So:

The concert was a big success due to high demand.

Its high-demand acts made the concert a big success.

Improve this answer
1
  • Agreeing, in "high-demand acts" the hyphen is not only correct but also prevents a reader from even momentarily understanding the phrase as "demand acts that are high." The ambiguity here is greater than in the "less formal writing" example in my other comment.
    – lauir
    Jan 7, 2016 at 19:38

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.