Noun premodification

From TechWriter Wiki

Noun premodification is where one or more words (normally either adjectives, or other nouns - see Noun clusters) are placed in front of a noun, to further describe (adjectivize) or define the noun. A simple example would be:

"...a left-handed screwdriver..."

The noun is screwdriver, and the premodifier (an adjective, in this case) is left-handed.

Technical Writers need to be careful of using too many pre-modifiers with a noun, because it could introduce confusion as to exactly what is being premodified. Consider the following phrase:

"...a chrome-plated nut wrench..."

Is this referring to a wrench for use with chrome-plated nuts, or a chrome-plated wrench for using with indeterminate types of nuts?

In general, premodifiers can be replaced with postmodifying clauses introduced by of or for. Rewording this last example above, we get:

"...a wrench for chrome-plated nuts..."
or
"...a chrome-plated wrench for nuts..."

Neither of these re-written examples give grounds for misinterpretation, and are therefore better choices.