Questions about modifiers.
14
votes
2answers
576 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?
12
votes
4answers
5k views
Should I use “ related” or “-related”
What is the correct use of the term "related?" For example, should I use it like computer related, or is it more proper to use computer-related (where the word "computer" is just part of my ...
8
votes
5answers
327 views
Nationality modifier vs. Language modifier
"Chinese writer Mo Yan wins Nobel literature prize" (USA Today)
"Chinese author Mo Yan wins Nobel Prize for Literature" (BBC)
Q. Are we to understand
that Mo Yan wrote in Chinese,
that he was a ...
8
votes
2answers
260 views
Chainsaw-equipped or chainsaw equipped?
Is it chainsaw-equipped or chainsaw equipped? And with what kind of former words to use "-" properly?
8
votes
3answers
559 views
Using “non-” to prefix a two-word phrase
Does "non-" prefixed to a two word phrase permit another hyphen before the second word?
If I want to refer to an entity which is defined as the negation of another entity by attaching "non-" it seems ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Origin of “y” or “ie” diminutive suffix to denote intimacy/tenderness? (ie Bob->Bobby, Dad->Daddy, Doug->Dougie)
Many names seem to get a "y" or "ie" at the end when the speaker wishes to denote a hint of familiarity, intimacy, or tenderness. Examples can be seen not just in names, but in terms like "Puppy", ...
6
votes
1answer
305 views
How to determine if a “[something] fighter” fights for or against [something]?
In freedom fighter the fighter supports freedom.
In fire fighter the fighter fights fire.
How do you determine when it is the first or the second case?
What is the meaning of spam fighter?
...
5
votes
3answers
846 views
Is it correct to write “a 5-mm-thick layer”?
Do I need hyphens? Should I use the indefinite article or zero article?
5
votes
4answers
779 views
What is the role of phrase “as many as” in “… as many as five commands …”?
I have a sentence as follows:
You may need as many as five commands to draw a simple triangle when using the basic layer.
My question is:
Is the phrase "as many as" crucial ? Will the meaning ...
5
votes
3answers
701 views
Could you help me to do a syntax analysis of this sentence?
The more I use Froyo the more new stuff I discover.
Does it mean:
I more use Froyo, I discover more new stuff.
5
votes
3answers
182 views
Why is it “rough-looking” instead of “roughly looking”?
I’ve noticed recently that certain constructions with present active participles (meaning, -ing forms acting adjectivally) prefer to be modified by adjectives rather than by adverbs.
For example, ...
5
votes
2answers
280 views
Indefinite Article Preceding Noun “Wind”
It's common to say "a gentle wind", but is it OK to say "a wind"?
I just noticed that there's a novel named "A Wind in the Door", in which case I guess "A" could be used here due to the modifying "in ...
4
votes
5answers
180 views
“Weapon platform” or “weapons platform”?
For a game I need an "orbital weapon platform"/"orbital weapons platform" and wonder which one is correct, or sounds better for an English native speaker.
4
votes
2answers
305 views
Use of “although” with a modifier
Is it grammatically correct to use "although" in a modifying clause, but without a conjugated verb? Example:
Although not regarded as nocturnal, the Black Bear of North America is active at night ...
3
votes
1answer
167 views
Can one be *highly* ambivalent?
I've always felt that it's something of a contradiction to be very or highly ambivalent. It's grammatically correct, as far as I know, but is it stylistically acceptable, or is my sense of linguistic ...
3
votes
1answer
133 views
“Perhaps, some bird lives in there” or “perhaps, a bird lives in there?”
Imagine yourself walking in the woods with children. One child is saying, "there is a big hole in that tree's trunk." You answer, "perhaps a/some bird lives in there."
Would you use a or some? ...
2
votes
2answers
640 views
“One-Day Only Promotion” or “One-Day-Only Promotion”
A copywriter I'm working with wrote "One-Day Only Promotion" but my feeling is that "One-Day-Only Promotion" is correct. The first three words describe 'Promotion'. I know you don't hyphenate adverbs, ...
2
votes
2answers
84 views
Article word referencing problem
I often have problem with hanging modifiers. In the sentence:
This project's vision follows from its predecessor's.
Is the reference "its" referring to the project or the vision? My intention is ...
2
votes
1answer
218 views
Where is the modifier in “the majority of senators”, “a number of students”, “the range of documents”?
Where is the modifier in "the majority of senators", "a number of students" and in "a range of documents" in these sentences:
The majority of senators will be fired tomorrow.
A number of students ...
2
votes
2answers
448 views
Explanation on when the possessive should be used instead of an attributive noun
How would you explain to a person who is learning English, and whose native language does not have attributive nouns, when the possessive should be used instead of an attributive noun?
In particular, ...
2
votes
3answers
356 views
Should “two weeks vacation” be “two weeks' vacation” (possessive)?
I've always understood that the phrase "two weeks" usually turns to "two weeks'" when used as a modifier -- as in "I'm giving my two weeks' notice" or "I get two weeks' vacation" ("two weeks' holiday" ...
2
votes
2answers
248 views
“On or off campus” vs. “On- or off-campus” vs. “On-campus or off-campus”
It does not matter if a student lives __ as ...
I'm writing a formal report. Which of the following should I use to fill in the blank? Which one is correct and more formal and looks/sounds ...
2
votes
1answer
119 views
Use of “as” in adverbial introductory phrase [closed]
Isn't this incorrect:
As a young boy his family moved …
Isn't this saying the the family moved as (when) it was young. A comma after boy fixes it, I believe, but it still seems a misplaced or ...
2
votes
2answers
182 views
Plural noun with singular modifiers [duplicate]
I am writing up a document for an art exhibit and have found myself a bit confused.
The piece in question is a lidded jar with a stand and handle. The sentence in question is as follows:
Worthy ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Hyphen or no hyphen when modifying an adjective with a quantity?
I have a sentence which has an object that is described with an adjective:
We need to inform our interested patrons of this change.
If I modify "educated" with "more" or "less", do I connect the ...
1
vote
1answer
7k views
Are “way better” and “way more” correct?
"Way better" and "way more" are popular expressions, but they both seem incorrect to me. "Far better", "far more", "much better", and "much more" all seem correct. Is this true? If so, why?
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Can the adjective phrase ‘so powerful’ be a postmodifier?
When I saw this sentence first, I thought so powerful to be an objective complement. [ ‘so powerful’ is the result of ‘make’] But now, it may be more reasonable to think ‘so powerful’ is modifying ‘a ...
1
vote
2answers
141 views
How to modify “one-third” by an adverb?
Would it be correct to merge with hyphens one-third-contiguously in the following phrase?
I propose to elect by 3 quotas, each per one-thirds-contiguously of time-zones.
1
vote
3answers
205 views
The placement of “only” in a sentence with perfect continuous tense and “been”
I was just wondering if there is a significant difference between placing "only" before and after the word "been".
Examples:
I've only been fixing cars since I was young.
vs
I've been only ...
0
votes
1answer
102 views
Is this an absolute phrase?
In the following example, is more full picture a kind of absolute phrase?
He has given us a lot, more full picture of dinosaurs of the East Coast.
0
votes
1answer
223 views
“User's expertise” or “user expertise”?
What is the correct form when referring to the expertise of a user (e.g. in programming, writing)?
user's expertise
user expertise
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Combining “only” with a second modifier
I would like to know which of the following phrases are grammatical.
administrative-only data
administrative only data
only-administrative data
only administrative data
-1
votes
2answers
84 views
Can the word “hair” be used in a sentence without any adjective modifying it?
Our teacher of linguistics gave us this example:
"the beautiful girl has got a long dark hair"
and said that "beautiful" was a necessary complement, and that "long", "dark" and "hair" were ...
