color

The punctuation can influence the meaning:

            red, white, and blue flags (solid-colored flags), red-white-and-blue flags (tricolors).

Do not hyphenate compound color modifiers unless in Webster's or unless both elements are colors of equal value:

            blue-black sky, gray-green eyes

but     bluish black sky, lemon yellow dress

            jade green lake, cobalt blue dish, dark blue suit

To avoid ambiguity, note:

            deep-green water

            light-blue suit (color)

            light blue suit (weight)

See also ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS, PUNCTUATION OF, HYPHEN.