Question #N1167
The following excerpt is taken from a travel blog about the best time to visit a region of the world. "The best time to visit the region is during the shoulder seasons - spring and autumn. Shoulder seasons are a time of transition between peak season and off-season. During shoulder seasons, the region's weather is pleasant and the crowds are smaller, making for a more enjoyable experience." What is the most likely reason why the writer uses a hyphen between "shoulder" and "seasons"?
In the excerpt, the hyphen between "shoulder" and "seasons" is used toThe hyphen between "shoulder" and "seasons" is used to indicate that the two words are functioning as a compound adjective. A compound adjective is a combination of two or more words that act as a single adjective. The compound adjective "shoulder-seasons" modifies the noun phrase "time of transition." The hyphen is necessary to indicate that "shoulder" and "seasons" are working together as a single unit. This is a common convention of Standard English. The word "shoulder seasons" is a compound noun acting as an adjective and should be hyphenated to make it clear that the two words are functioning together as a single unit.