http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishGrammarQuestions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here.enCSMOD (Build: 3273.32735)http://www.englishforums.com/English/StatesCorrect/lbgj/post.htm#54443Tue, 09 Nov 2004 23:10:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:54443komountain0http://www.englishforums.com/English/StatesCorrect/lbgj/post.htm#54443http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-54443.xmlIt depends on how you will use it. <br />The hyphenated one is used as an adjective before nouns <br />(as in "state-of-the-art technology). Many native speakers tend to <br />omit hyphens, which I believe is a bad habit. <br />If you want to use the term as a noun, do not use any hyphens. <br />Then it will be "the state of the art." Do not add an "s" to the word "state." <br /> <br />In most cases, hyphens are used to connect words and make them <br />work as adjectives before nouns.http://www.englishforums.com/English/StatesCorrect/lbgv/post.htm#54438Tue, 09 Nov 2004 22:57:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:54438nona the brit1http://www.englishforums.com/English/StatesCorrect/lbgv/post.htm#54438http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-54438.xmlPrsonally I would go without the hyphens as I think four hyphenated words is getting a bit ridiculous, but I'm sure other people would say the opposite. I don't think it will be too important which you select. Although it is a bit of a cliche now...http://www.englishforums.com/English/StatesCorrect/lbvj/post.htmTue, 09 Nov 2004 18:40:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:54409KristineAz2http://www.englishforums.com/English/StatesCorrect/lbvj/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-54409.xmlI'm sitting here trying to compose the company Mission Statement and I don't know which is correct: "state-of-the-art" or "state of the art". <br /> <br />Can anyone help me with this one? <br /> <br />Thanks!