"10-year" vs "10 year"

Question

"10-year" vs "10 year"

Both "10 year" and "10-year" can be correct, depending on the context. "10 year" is used when referring to a quantity of years without a hyphen, while "10-year" is used as a compound adjective before a noun.

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

This phrase is used to describe a noun by connecting the number of years to it as a compound adjective.

Examples:

She got a 10-year sentence for her crime.
He is a 10-year veteran of the industry.
The company offers a 10-year warranty on their products.
It was a 10-year project that required extensive planning.
The school implemented a 10-year plan for improvement.

Alternatives:

a decade-long
a 10-year-old
a 10-year period
a 10-year-old child
a 10-year-old car

This phrase is used when stating a specific number of years without connecting it to another word as a compound adjective.

Examples:

I have been working at this company for 10 years.
She celebrated her 10-year anniversary at the firm.
He spent 10 years studying abroad.
The project took 10 years to complete.
They have been friends for 10 years.

Alternatives:

a 10-year period
10 years
a decade
a span of 10 years
a decennium

Answer 1

10-year

This phrase is correct when used as a compound adjective before a noun.

Answer 2

10 year

This phrase is correct when referring to a quantity of years without a hyphen.

"10-year" vs "10 year"

10-year

10 year

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