Tagged Questions
3
votes
1answer
57 views
How to use hyphens appropriately when listing multiple hyphenated terms?
If multiple hyphenated terms share the same latter half, and I wish to list them without repeating that latter half, how should the hyphens be placed?
For example:
"I will be investigating ...
3
votes
1answer
161 views
Hyphenation or blending
Are there any rules when to write a set of two (or more) words or abbreviations forming a name of some entity as separate, when to hyphenate, and when to stick them together?
These are my findings ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
Proper punctuation of “three to five page essay” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to write dashes in “a 2-4-room-apartment”?
Which is the best way to write the quotation in the Question Title using numbers?
3–5-page essay
3 to 5-page essay
3–5 ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
When do I use a suspended hyphen? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Use of hyphens when writing repeated compound words that have common parts
When is the use of a suspended hyphen correct? Only in cases were the last part of the ...
2
votes
1answer
147 views
Using hyphen and quote marks in composed term? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
I want to write a term composed out of multiple words, and I would like to know whether I have to use ...
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
0answers
36 views
husband-and-wife team or husband and wife team? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
Referring to a sentence from an online magazine:
"Lonely Planet was started in 1975, when the British ...
3
votes
1answer
137 views
In “type of guy” constructions, do you use hyphens or not? For example [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
To hyphenate or not?
"Did you see this silly poll? It says that if I were a superhero, I would be Captain America."
"Really? I don't know; I see you as more of a ...
3
votes
5answers
566 views
Use of hyphens when writing repeated compound words that have common parts
In my native language, Norwegian, one uses hyphens when stating two or more copulated compound words that has common parts (words). In a thesis I'm working on, should I write
test specimens, test ...
1
vote
4answers
2k views
How do hyphens modify the meaning of “n-month-old”?
I see three different ways of hyphenating the phrase "six month old".
Six-month old:
A six-month old poses with a machine gun owned by supporters of the Free Syrian Army.
Six-month-old:
...
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),
...
8
votes
5answers
312 views
Can word-hyphenation ever be semantically significant?
I was prompted by this question (difference between ecosystem and eco-system) to wonder whether word-hyphenation can ever be semantically significant.
My gut instinct is to say that since hyphenation ...
3
votes
2answers
183 views
Repetition of hyphen in shared prefixes [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can a hyphen be used without anything on the right side?
I'm trying to discuss types of semiconductor, there is P-type and N-type. Assuming my hyphenation is correct, ...
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, ...
1
vote
0answers
71 views
Is it appropriate to use a hyphen in compound adjectives? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
I've searched the web and "English Language & Usage", but am having problems finding the answer to ...
9
votes
2answers
378 views
Multiple hyphens in a word
Is it allowed to have multiple hyphens in one word? I want to use the word semi-self-sustaining in the sentence
However, the ability to produce semi-self-sustaining stations is
possessed by up ...
2
votes
1answer
45 views
“n-degenerate” or “n degenerate”?
In physics, we say that something is "degenerate" when it exists in more than one "equivalent" versions. What is the proper form of saying that there are n versions of X -- that X is "n-degenerate" or ...
3
votes
2answers
107 views
HTTP-port or HTTP port?
Should I use dash in a port name, e.g. http-port, ftp-port, or it's more correct to omit the dash, like "http port", "ftp port"?
3
votes
1answer
653 views
Should “pseudo” words be hyphenated?
While this question talks about the meaning of the word "pseudo", I'm wondering what the rules are for hyphenating words that start with this prefix.
For example, would it be correct to call ...
1
vote
3answers
632 views
Using hyphenated words in technical writing?
I always get confused when using hyphenated words in my research papers. Is there any specific rule for using hyphenated words? For example, which one of the following is the correct usage of co ...
10
votes
1answer
340 views
Can a hyphen be used without anything on the right side?
From this page:
[...] in early parts of this century when it was the most user- and hardware-friendly Linux operating system available [...]
Is the user- fragment valid (outside this ...
0
votes
2answers
628 views
Hyphenation in compound adjectives [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
To hyphenate or not?
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
When is it appropriate to use a hyphen?
In the sentence "Portland is known to ...
0
votes
1answer
109 views
Should “A-Player” Be Hyphenated?
Stupid term, but still: Is it hyphenated or not?
Bob was really happy to have hired Alice; she was an 'A-Player' from the world of private equity and would add a lot to the firm.
1
vote
1answer
73 views
Shorebased, Shore-based or Shore Based?
What is the best or correct way to spell this adjective (e.g. shorebased training)?
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is it “grandfather”, but “great-uncle”?
I know that there are six forms of this word, but "great-uncle" is most common ("great-aunt" has a similar graph). Why is this, if "grandfather" and "grandmother" are common?
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it proper to use a colon followed immediately by a hyphen?
I have seen some writing where people have a list or a figure in writing and they will write something like this:
The information is provided in Image
3:-
Is that correct? Is this a British ...
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. . . .
...
8
votes
1answer
459 views
Post-hyphenation of split compound words
Assuming that these two words
off-topic
on-topic
must be hyphenated, which of the punctuations in the following sentences is correct? (crucial part emphasized)
Regardless of whether it ...
7
votes
5answers
597 views
Using the “ex” prefix on a multiple word subject
What is the proper way to use the "ex" prefix to more than one word?
Examples:
He is an ex-school bus driver.
My ex baseball coach taught me.
I am an ex-Fish and Game Warden.
...
1
vote
1answer
112 views
“of the feudal Estates type” or “of the feudal-Estates type”?
In one Wikipedia page I read this definition:
The zemsky sobor was the first Russian
parliament of the feudal Estates
type, in the 16th and 17th
centuries.
I don't understand, why is there ...
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 ...
11
votes
1answer
408 views
Fractions as phrasal (compound) adjectives
Is there a difference between a written-out fraction that serves as a noun:
He gave me one half of his sandwich.
and a written-out fraction serving as an adjective:
I gave her a one-half ...
2
votes
2answers
4k views
Usage of hyphen in “oft-cited”
The oft-cited first sentence of this work
Why would you not just use two words, oft cited?
2
votes
2answers
1k views
When is it appropriate to use a hyphen? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
To hyphenate or not?
What is the proper way to spell "side dish"?
Is it: "side dish" or "side-dish"?
Also,
Is it "ham-fried" or "ham fried"?
Basically, when do you use ...
7
votes
1answer
3k views
To hyphenate or not?
As a non-native speaker of English and an engineer by training, I always get confused about hyphenation and almost always end up referring to Google every time I need to make that decision.
Does ...
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 ...
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 ...
14
votes
2answers
564 views
How to connect a word and a phrase with a hyphen?
For example, "file system" and "related". Is it "file system-related"? It will appear as if it is a compound of "file" and "system-related", won't it?
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?
37
votes
6answers
3k views
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
Some words are written without hyphens (nonaggression, nonbeliever), and some words are written with a hyphen (well-intentioned). Is there a schema in the use of a hyphen?
16
votes
1answer
5k views
Do you capitalize both parts of a hyphenated word in a title?
Do you capitalize both parts of a hyphenated word in a title?
"My Ex-Wife Hates Me"
or
"My Ex-wife Hates Me"
