Hyphen Nation: Third-Debate Moderator vs. Third Debate Moderator

A third-debate moderator is not the same as a third debate moderator.

Quick rules:

• Use a hyphen between two words that work together to describe a noun, when the compound adjective comes directly before the noun. Maria shared her blue-ribbon recipe.
• Don't use a hyphen when the two words come after the noun. Marie shared the recipe that won a blue ribbon.
• Don't use a hyphen when the first word in a compound modifier is an adverb that ends in '-ly.' Sam bought the highly recommended book.