Man-Eating or Man Eating? Compound Adjectives Explained

In this episode, I talk about how small details in English—like hyphens—can completely change the meaning of a sentence. We look at examples like man-eating vs man eating, and I explain how compound adjectives work in everyday English.I also go over:• When to use hyphens before a noun• Why we say a seven-day trip but the trip is seven days long• Common compounds like see-through, well-made, stress-free, and last-minute• Personality adjectives such as absent-minded, big-headed, and thin-skinned• Informal expressions you might hear in real conversationsThis episode is great for B1–B2 learners who want clearer writing, more natural speech, and fewer grammar doubts about hyphens.Try this after listening:Make three sentences with number + noun compounds (for example, a two-hour meeting).Change a phrase into a compound adjective (plans at the last minute → last-minute plans).Say your sentences out loud and notice how the words connect when they come before a noun.