The guideline is:
Hyphenate before but not after a noun; compounds with more, most, less, least, and very usually open unless ambiguity threatens.
Examples:
a much-needed addition
it was much needed
little-understood rules
a too-easy answer
the best-known author
a lesser-paid colleague
the most efficient method
a less prolific artist
a more thorough exam
the most skilled workers (most in number)
but
the most-skilled workers (most in skill)
3 comments:
Fantastic; thank you, Tisha!
A phrase I came across in an essay I was editing recently: second most spacious country (a reference to Canada). I left it open.
Thanks for adding the rule in there. It really helps to try to get a grasp of what your examples.
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