hyphen with ages and measurements
A 7-year-old versus 7 years old.
Hyphenate the compound before a noun: a 7-year-old child, a 10-foot pole. No hyphen in the predicate: The child is 7 years old. The pole is 10 feet long. See also ages: hyphenation and numerals.
Examples
Usea 10-foot pole
UseThe pole is 10 feet long.
AvoidThe pole is 10-feet long.