Writing for Business - A Whatis.com Blog » adjectival phrases http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business Is your grammar as good as your code? Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:09:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Writing for Business – first come, first served or first-come-first-served? http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/writing-for-business-first-come-first-served-or-first-come-first-served/ http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/writing-for-business-first-come-first-served-or-first-come-first-served/#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:54:08 +0000 Ivy Wigmore http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/?p=317 typing Which is correct?

A limited number of hard copies are available; you can pick them up on a _______________ basis.
a. first-come-first-served
b. first come, first served

Answer: a

Explanation: In this context, the phrase is an adjective modifying “basis” so we hyphenate.

As a standalone sentence, the phrase uses the other form: A limited number of hard copies are available. First come, first served.

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