Problems With Modifiers (2): Hyphenated Adjective.

Remember that it is common for a number to appear as the first in a series of hyphenated adjectives.

(Agriculture 420 is [a] [five] [-] [hour] [class])

- Agriculture 420 is
- (a): a
- (adjective): five
- (-): -
- (adjective): hour
- (noun): class

([A] [sixty] [-] [year] [-] [old] [employee] may retire)

- (a): A
- (adjective): sixty
- (-): -
- (adjective): year
- (-): -
- (adjective): old
- (noun): employee
- may retire

Avoid using a plural form for any of the adjectives joined by hyphens even when the noun is plural.

Examples:

Incorrect: (A three- minutes call) anywhere in the United States cost less than a dollar when you dial it yourself.
Correct: (A three- minute call) anywhere in the United States cost less than a dollar when you dial it yourself.

Incorrect: They have (a four-months-old baby).
Correct: They have (a four-month-old baby).

Incorrect: Can you make change for (a twenty-dollars bill?)
Correct: Can you make change for (a twenty-dollar bill?)

Incorrect: (A two-doors car) is cheaper than (a four-doors model).
Correct: (A two-door car) is cheaper than (a four-door model).

Incorrect: I have to write (a one-thousand-words paper) this weekend.
Correct: I have to write (a one-thousand-word paper) this weekend.