Have you ever been stuck on how to say something is simple to use? Should you write ‘easy to use’ or ‘easy-to-use’?
When you see a hyphen, like in ‘easy-to-use’, it means the words together work as one adjective to talk about something that’s simple to operate.
When there’s no hyphen, like in ‘easy to use’, it talks about the way something is used.
Both are right, but how you use them depends on what you want to say. Knowing when to use each phrase can help you make things clearer and make your writing easier for everyone to understand.
Easy to Use or Easy-to-Use? Which is Correct?
Both “easy to use” and “easy-to-use” are correct. It all depends on where in the sentence you’re using the phrase.
You should only add hyphens when you’re using it as an adjective before a thing or person (a noun). Here are some examples to make it clearer:
Easy to use:
- “This software is easy to use.” (The phrase follows the verb “is.”)
Easy-to-use:
- “The company released an easy-to-use software program.” (Here, the phrase is before the noun “software program,” modifying it.)
Can easy-to-use and easy to use, be used interchangeably?
No, “easy-to-use” and “easy to use” are not interchangeable.
When you add hyphens, ‘easy-to-use’ acts like an adjective that comes before the thing it’s describing (the noun).
For example, you might say, “I love this easy-to-use software.”
On the flip side, when you say ‘easy to use’ without hyphens, it usually comes after the thing you’re talking about. This phrase shares your experience with the thing or what it’s like to use it.
For instance, you could say, “This software is really easy to use.“
So, always keep an eye on where you’re placing the phrase in your sentence. That will help you figure out whether you need hyphens or not.
Easy-To-Use: Meaning and Usage
If you’re talking about a gadget and say it’s “easy-to-use”, you’re usually using this phrase to give more information about the gadget.
When you put a term like “easy-to-use” right before a thing (like ‘gadget’), you add hyphens in it. By doing this, you’re showing that the whole phrase is giving more details about the thing that comes after it.
For example: You’ll love this easy-to-use interface.
The hyphens join “easy,” “to,” and “use” to work as one descriptive term for “interface.”
Easy To Use: Meaning and Usage
You pick the phrase “easy to use” without the hyphens when you’re talking about your experience with something after you’ve mentioned it.
For example, if you’ve been talking about an app, you might say: “This app is easy to use.”
The structure here is clear—first comes the thing (‘the app’), then the phrase ‘easy to use.’ Here, the phrase talks about the experience of using the thing rather than the thing itself.
Examples of Using “easy-to-use“ in A Sentence
“You’ll appreciate this easy-to-use spreadsheet for organizing your expenses.“
“Designers appreciate easy-to-use software that is also versatile.“
“The interface was developed to be intuitive and easy-to-use.“
“Incorporate an easy-to-use navigation menu on your website to help visitors.“
“This easy-to-use camera suits beginners perfectly.“
Examples of Using “easy to use“ in A Sentence
“The software they provided is easy to use and efficient.“
“I found the assembly instructions easy to use and helpful.“
“This new app is incredibly easy to use, even for beginners.“
“The kitchen gadget is easy to use, which saves me a lot of time.“
“Her tutorial made the complex software easy to use.“
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ‘simple to use’ a suitable alternative to ‘easy to use’?
Yes, “simple to use” is an alternative to “easy to use”. The phrases are interchangeable, as both convey that something does not require much effort to operate or understand.
How can I correctly use ‘easy to use’ in a sentence?
You would use “easy to use” when you are not directly modifying a noun. For example, you could say, “This software is easy to use.” When “easy to use” is before a noun and acts as an adjective, it is often hyphenated: “This is an easy-to-use software.”
Are phrases like ‘easy to remember’ supposed to be hyphenated?
No, phrases like “easy to remember” are not typically hyphenated. Similar to “easy to use”, the phrase “easy to remember” should be hyphenated when it precedes a noun and functions as an adjective. For example: “He gave me an easy-to-remember phone number.”
