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Ryanz0r Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Is it "well written" or "well-written"?
0 Hi everyone! I came across this forum upon searching for an answer to this query I have. I've always believed it to be "well written" because "well" is an adverb simply describing the passive adjective "written," where hyphenation is only necessary if an adjective is describing another adjective ("open-minded" for instance). However, I see "well-written" very frequently, and it seems to be the more widely accepted convention. 02 br
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00 Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks in advance. 05 0 010id 1
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00 Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks in advance. 05 0 010id 1
Top answer
0 01 blockquote 01 cite 10 Ryanz0r 12 cite 10 Hi everyone! I came across this forum upon searching for an answer to this query I have. I've always believed it to be "well written" because "well" is an adverb simply describing the passive adjective "written," where hyphenation is only necessary if an adjective is describing another adjective ("open-minded" for instance).
- 0 01 blockquote 01 cite 10 Ryanz0r 12 cite 10 Hi everyone!
- I came across this forum upon searching for an answer to this query I have.
- I've always believed it to be "well written" because "well" is an adverb simply describing the passive adjective "written," where hyphenation is only necessary if an adjective is describing another adjective ("open-minded" for instance).
- 12 br 12 br 10 Can anyone shed some light on this?
- Thanks in advance.
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19 Answers
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0 01 blockquote
01 cite 10 Ryanz0r 12 cite 10 Hi everyone! I came across this forum upon searching for an answer to this query I have. I've always believed it to be "well written" because "well" is an adverb simply describing the passive adjective "written," where hyphenation is only necessary if an adjective is describing another adjective ("open-minded" for
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0 Hi, 02 br
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00 I will give it a shot.... 02 br
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00 This novel is well written – passive, “well” modifies “written”. 02 br
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00 This is a well-written novel- "Well-written" now is used as adjective to describe the novel. Note it that a hyphen is typically used in this form. 02 br
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00 This
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00 I will give it a shot.... 02 br
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00 This novel is well written – passive, “well” modifies “written”. 02 br
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00 This is a well-written novel- "Well-written" now is used as adjective to describe the novel. Note it that a hyphen is typically used in this form. 02 br
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00 This
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0 Hmm, that indeed seems acceptable, but I still fail to understand why an adverb and adjective must become a hyphenate. 05 0 00 Is it simply a bizarre exception that we have to conform to? It is perfectly fine to have "a brilliantly written article," so why not "well" instead of "brilliantly" (as an example)? 010id 7
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0 01 blockquote
01 cite 10 Ryanz0r 12 cite 10 Hmm, that indeed seems acceptable, but I still fail to understand why an adverb and adjective must become a hyphenate. 15 0 10 Is it simply a bizarre exception that we have to conform to? It is perfectly fine to have "a brilliantly written article," so why not "well" instead of "brilliantly" (as an example)? 1
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0 Aha! So "well" is irregular for more than the fact that it does not end "ly" as the majority of adverbs do? That solves my predicament, thanks very much! 05 0 010id 1
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01 cite 10 Ryanz0r 12 cite 10 Aha! So "well" is irregular for more than the fact that it does not end "ly" as the majority of adverbs do? That solves my predicament, thanks very much! 15 0 12 br10 NP. 05 1 010id 111id 1
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Thank you.
Would you definitely say that the following underlined part in the sentence of yours needs to be hyphenated because I think it might not be?
This is a piece of "badly-damaged" furniture. No one will buy it.
Would you definitely say that the following underlined part in the sentence of yours needs to be hyphenated because I think it might not be?
This is a piece of "badly-damaged" furniture. No one will buy it.
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I believe either way could be correct, depending on the useage.
"It is a well-written paper." and The paper is well written."
It has been so long since I studied grammar that I couldn't cite any rules, though!
JenniWren
"It is a well-written paper." and The paper is well written."
It has been so long since I studied grammar that I couldn't cite any rules, though!
JenniWren
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Thank you.
How is the sentence, "This is a piece of 'badly-damaged' furniture", differ from what I think is that Rishonly brought out as the rule in regard to the hyphenation involving adverbs that end with "ly." In the previous post, I think, he said that the hyphenation rule they are talking about??? doesn't apply for adverbs that end with "ly"; then he gave these examples.
How is the sentence, "This is a piece of 'badly-damaged' furniture", differ from what I think is that Rishonly brought out as the rule in regard to the hyphenation involving adverbs that end with "ly." In the previous post, I think, he said that the hyphenation rule they are talking about??? doesn't apply for adverbs that end with "ly"; then he gave these examples.
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