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.