The most visited monument

'...most-visited...'

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.

Why is it

the most-visited monument

but

the most important monument?

What is the difference that makes one use hyphen and the other not?

Thanks.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyphen

Note these statements in that article:

A definitive collection of hyphenation rules does not exist; rather, different manuals of style prescribe different usage guidelines.

When a compound modifier other than an adverb–adjective combination appe

Hi,
But it is generally stated that you should NOT hyphen after MOST.

So what I am asking is why "MOST-PREFFERED STATE" should be hyphenated but not "the most important information" \

Thanks.

englishnewbieBut it is generally stated that you should NOT hyphen after MOST.

Generally stated? Many of the "rules" of punctuation are dependent on the style manual you use. When you say "generally stated" do you mean that all (or most) style manuals say not to put a hyphen after "most"?

englishnewbieSo what I am asking is why "MOST-