compound noun usage: N+N

Question

HiIs it "a single-layer film" or "a single-layered film" or both are correct?(The film can have multiple layers, and each layer is formed separately.)Thanks in advance, iPS. Is the hyphen correctly used here?

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

I prefer "a single-layer film", and I think it should be hyphenated.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi,

How do you decide when to put that "-ed" at the end of the last adjective? A long ago, I think I was taught the 'three-storied" is correct but now I see "three-story" in sentences and people seem to take it as correct. Does it subject to trends?

three-storied (three-story??)building
muti-colored (multi-color??) clothes
stone-washed (stone-wash??) jeans

Infinik · Answer

Upon checking in the dictionary, some are considered better in one word:

multicolored, multilayered..etc

But for "stone-washed", I think the jeans are really "washed" (or done by similar process) so "stone-wash" may sound a bit different to me.

Mr Wordy · Answer

AnonymousHow do you decide when to put that "-ed" at the end of the last adjective? A long ago, I think I was taught the 'three-storied" is correct but now I see "three-story" in sentences and people seem to take it as correct. Does it subject to trends?

three-storied (three-story??)building
muti-colored (multi-color??) clothes
stone-washed (stone-wash??) jeans

I don't know. I've never really thought about it before, but I think I just consider each compound on its own merits. As far as your examples are concerned, I would write "three-stor(e)y building", either "multi-colo(u)red clothes" or "multicolo(u)red clothes" (probably choosing at random) and "stone-washed jeans".

(The bracketed options indicate UK spellings, which I'd use in my part of the world.)

compound noun usage: N+N

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