a well formed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a well formed" is not correct as it is missing a hyphen and should be "a well-formed" in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is properly structured or organized, particularly in technical or academic contexts. Example: "The algorithm produced a well-formed output that met all the specified criteria."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Academia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Script: Written in a well formed hybrida script by a single scribe.

Yale University

MC accepts a well formed MSVL program as input and generates an executable binary code.

Theoretical Computer Science

Script: Part I (ff. 1-64): Wrinten in a well formed round humanistic script by a single scribe, above top line.

Yale University

Scribe 1, ff. 1r-38v, wrines in a well formed round humanistic script, below top line and sometimes not using the final line ruled for text.

Yale University

Mobility is a well formed opportunity.

Forbes

If they hear an intriguing idea, or even a well formed sentence or two, they push a large red button.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

First, the de-part is a well-formed clause in both form and meaning.

Lingua Sinica

In pure typefree CL, an expression of the form MM is a well-formed term.

SEP

In order to make a well-formed request, it is useful to understand a few quick facts about the directories.

Stanford University

In both structures, the S2 is a well-formed string in Mandarin in both form and meaning.

Lingua Sinica

"We don't have a well-formed plan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "well-formed" as a compound adjective, ensure it is hyphenated to clearly indicate that "well" modifies "formed", especially in formal writing.

Common error

Omitting the hyphen in "well-formed" can lead to ambiguity or misinterpretation, especially in technical or academic writing. Always use "well-formed" as a single, compound adjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a well formed" functions as an adjective phrase intended to modify a noun. However, it's grammatically questionable without a hyphen. Ludwig highlights the need for "a well-formed" as a compound adjective.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

40%

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a well formed" is generally considered grammatically incorrect without a hyphen; the correct form is "a well-formed". According to Ludwig, the corrected phrase functions as a compound adjective, typically used in academic, scientific, and technical writing to describe something properly structured or organized. Common alternatives include "a properly formed" or "a correctly structured". Remember to use the hyphen for grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a well-formed

This is the grammatically correct version with a hyphen, indicating a single, compound adjective.

a properly formed

Focuses on the correctness of the formation or structure.

a correctly structured

Emphasizes the arrangement and organization of the components.

a carefully crafted

Highlights the skill and attention to detail in the creation process.

a meticulously designed

Underscores the precision and thoroughness of the design.

a fully developed

Implies that something has reached its complete and mature state.

a comprehensively outlined

Stresses the thoroughness and completeness of the outline.

a thoroughly elaborated

Suggests a detailed and extensive explanation or development.

a skillfully constructed

Highlights the expertise involved in putting something together.

a completely organized

Focuses on the order and arrangement of elements.

FAQs

How can I use "a well-formed" in a sentence?

Use "a well-formed" to describe something properly structured or organized. For example, "The compiler requires "a well-formed" input file."

What's the difference between "a well formed" and "a well-formed"?

"A well formed" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts and requires a hyphen. The correct form, ""a well-formed"", acts as a single adjective describing something properly structured.

What can I say instead of ""a well-formed""?

Alternatives include "a properly formed", "a correctly structured", or "a carefully crafted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a well formed argument" correct?

No, it should be "a well-formed argument". The hyphen indicates that "well" modifies "formed", creating a compound adjective.