Andrew Griffin noticed something missing on the newly designed Missouri license plate.

The state bird, the bluebird, is there, sitting on a branch of the state tree, the hawthorn, against a light blue background.

But the hyphen between the words “Show” and “Me” is missing. It should be there, since it is a compound modifier as well as Missouri tradition, said Griffin, an Oklahoman.

“It’s just a shame,” said Griffin, who has family in St. Louis and close ties to the Show-Me State. “It does send the wrong message to young students who are learning the basics of grammar.

“For whatever reason, it got through the bureaucracy and got overlooked, or the artist didn’t know any better.”

Dale Simpson, a professor of English at Missouri Southern State University and head of the department of English and philosophy, said the rules of grammar require the hyphen.

“If you have a compound modifier before a noun, it would be hyphenated,” he said.

Missourians were asked to cast votes for three candidates for the new state license plate, and the “bluebird” plate was chosen by 56 percent of 258,000 Internet voters. The other two candidates have the hyphen in the phrase “Show-Me State.”

For the bluebird plate, the phrase “Show Me State” originally was on the right-hand side, but it was affecting the ability to print the plates, said David Griffith, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Revenue. The phrase was moved to the middle of the plate. But even when it was on the right-hand side of the plate, it did not have the hyphen.

Griffith isn’t disputing the need for the hyphen. In fact, the hyphen was used throughout the press release issued by his office earlier this month announcing the winner.

But there is little the state can do about it now, he said. The plates already are being printed and are to be released June 16.

Missouri law requires the slogan “Show-Me State” on the license plate, but it doesn’t specify the hyphen, Griffith noted.

“All it truly says is that it would have to be on the plate,” he said.

Besides, the deed is done. Twelve million plates are being printed, and starting over would require someone to show a lot of money, so the plates will remain hyphen-free. The plates cost $1.39 to make, and 2.8 million already have been printed, Griffith said Thursday.

“We’ve got them printed, and they’re on their way,” he said.