Kirk Mahoney . com

I saw this title at the start of a local TV news broadcast.

Problem:
The hyphen between “HIGH” and “DEFINITION” does not belong.

Explanation:
The title appeared at the start of the 5 p.m. news broadcast from Houston TV station KHOU.

The TV station was promoting that it broadcasts with a high-definition television signal.

However, just as “BRIGHT GREEN” would not take a hyphen in a phrase such as “DRESSES IN BRIGHT GREEN”, the title in the TV broadcast should have no hyphen.

The reason for this is that “HIGH DEFINITION” is not modifying anything. Instead, the adjective “HIGH” is simply modifying the noun “DEFINITION”.

Solution:
“11 NEWS IN HIGH DEFINITION”