Tagged Questions
1
vote
2answers
97 views
Should you use en dashes in acronyms?
For terms like liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry that typically use an en dash rather than a hyphen, would an en dash still be used in the acronym, LC–MS? Or would we only need a hyphen there, ...
1
vote
1answer
736 views
“40-50 years old” vs. “40-50 year olds” when referring to a group
In formal research, which is more correct, and why:
the group of 40-50 years old
OR
the group of 40-50 year olds
In any case the phrase in bold is to be treated as a noun only, as in:
The ...
1
vote
2answers
701 views
What's the double hyphen after greetings in emails?
I usually see just format in the emails I receive daily:
Hello Dorian--
I'm calling you in regard with the something...
Thanks,
I see comma after the greetings too but I am not sure ...
2
votes
1answer
199 views
Parentheses vs. commas vs. hyphen or dash in a list of people
In a list of people published in a bulletin, which is correct?
We continue in prayer for: Amy B.(cancer), T. Jones(nephew of Tim), Lillie (on the death of her brother), Sally(Nursing Home),
...
1
vote
1answer
363 views
More dastardly dashes: what are the 'horizontal bar' and 'figure dash' characters for? [closed]
Having read another excellent answer regarding the use of horizontal line-like characters, I'm interested to know the meanings of the horizontal bar and figure dash.
In the other answer linked above, ...
2
votes
1answer
176 views
Doubly hyphenated words
Consider the word quasi-first-class. Are the hyphens used correctly? Should the two hyphens be of different length to denote the distinction of the hyphenation? Is there a general rule to deal with ...
2
votes
4answers
359 views
How to write dashes in “a 2-4-room-apartment”?
I want to write in the announcement a description of an eventual apartment, which I am searching as a rental. I am interested in apartments with 2, 3, or 4 rooms. How should I write the compound ...
12
votes
5answers
4k views
Appropriate dash to use when attributing a quotation?
If I’m citing a poem or quotation, what kind of dash precedes the author’s name? Example:
This Business of Printing; which I am heartily tired of, and repent I e’er attempted. . . .
...
3
votes
5answers
607 views
Does “cost-benefit ratio” use a hyphen or an en-dash?
Should I write "cost-benefit" (hyphen) or "cost–benefit" (en dash), and why?
7
votes
4answers
355 views
When and why did the em-dash and the hyphen supplant the semicolon?
It seems to me that semicolons are rarely used today in ordinary English writing - even in newspapers and books. They appear to have been replaced, in many cases, by em-dashes and hyphens (the hyphen ...
4
votes
1answer
272 views
May en-dashes be used in sports scores?
The accepted answer to the authoritative question When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen? currently has this to say regarding the en-dash:
An en-dash is use to connect values in a ...
6
votes
2answers
234 views
What is the difference between `-` and `--` [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
Is there any difference between:
-
and
-- or in some cases, a long dash
I have seen these two used lots of ...
2
votes
1answer
269 views
When to use -, – and —? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
This is about hyphens (-), en-dashes (–) and em-dashes (—).
When to use which one? To be honest, I always use ...
3
votes
3answers
283 views
How does one correctly use a “-” outside of hyphenation - if at all?
When writing out emails I often find myself replacing semicolons with hyphens or dashes. For example, "Let's meet up at the pub - or would you rather go to a restaurant?"
I feel this is wrong, but I ...
13
votes
3answers
495 views
Is Hyphen Really the Longer – line instead of the shorter dash - line?
I had a discussion with some people today on hyphen and dashes. They had concluded that hyphen, which is used to link two connecting words (book-bag) is the longer line – instead of the shorter line ...
55
votes
1answer
3k views
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
I generally know how to use a hyphen, but when should I use an en-dash instead of an em-dash, or when should I use a hyphen instead of an em-dash?
