Re: hyphenation

[Harry Binswanger hb@xxxxxxxx]

Patricia,

Thanks for the hyphenation rules.
Does "unit modifiers" (or, as I'd say, "unit-modifiers") cover
noun-pile-ups (no hyphen pun intended there)?
As in: "information-technology administrator." And then there are multiple
noun-pile-ups, as in adminspeak: "the
technology-information-system-facilitation-personnel" (i.e., the secretaries).
In the editing I do I'm constantly fighting the battle to get people to use
hyphens for these two-or-more-noun phrases in which the first noun
functions as an adjective.

The hyphen: you've got to have a love-relationship with it.
--Harry
Reply to message from Morris Krok , on Thu, 17 Mar
2005 06:50:47 +0200

English hyphenation HAS some rules and logic to it, but there are also
many exceptions. The general principle is that if two (or more) words are
used before another word and jointly modify it (such a construction is
called a unit modifier) they should be hyphenated: a long-lasting
tradition, a well-known principle, the many-headed hydra, a 6-inch-wide
board.

But here's something I wrote on the subject a while back. Enjoy and be
enlightened. (I encoded it because I've use auto counters to clarify the
structure, as I always do.)
XPLeNCODE v2.0
b-gin [UNTITLED]
{<}DC1=1.1{>}Use of the Hyphen in English[cr|lf]{<}C1{>}. To{032}
indicate a word break at the end of a line[255+050+069] [cr|l
f]{<}C1{>}. In certain words that are spelled that way in a d
ictionary (e[255+050+069]g[255+050+069] mail[255+050+068]orde
r)[255+050+069][cr|lf]{<}C1{>}. In a noun composed of two equ
al parts: god[255+050+068]king, soldier[255+050+068]statesman
[255+050+069][cr|lf]{<}C1{>}. In unit modifiers, that is, two
 words that jointly modify a third[255+050+069] Some typical{032}
instances of this group are [cr|lf]{<}C2{>}. a number and a u
nit: a five[255+050+068]day week, a three[255+050+068]month C
D, a six[255+050+068]point rise;[cr|lf]{<}C2{>}. a fraction:{032}
a two[255+050+068]thirds share;[cr|lf]{<}C2{>}. an adverb (bu
t not one that ends in [255+050+068]ly) and a participle: a w
ell[255+050+068]worn suit; a long[255+050+068]lost friend, a{032}
fast[255+050+068]selling stock;[cr|lf]{<}C2{>}. a combination
 of adjective+noun+the suffix [255+050+068]ed: a red[255+050+
068]cheeked lad, a low[255+050+068]roofed house, a high[255+0
50+068]valued stock;[cr|lf]{<}C2{>}. a noun and a participle:
 the rain[255+050+068]washed streets, the storm[255+050+068]w
racked coast, a decision[255+050+068]making body, an awe[255+
050+068]inspiring view;[cr|lf]{<}C2{>}. a participle and a "p
reposition": locked[255+050+068]in rates, worn[255+050+068]ou
t clothes (in many cases, these are actually the tail element
s of phrasal verbs, not true prepositions)[cr|lf]{<}C1{>}. ne
arly all "self" compounds: self[255+050+068]evident, self[255
+050+068]control, self[255+050+068]respect[255+050+069] [cr|l
f]
-nd
XPLeNCODE


Patricia M. Godfrey
PMGodfrey@xxxxxxxx


Harry Binswanger
hb@xxxxxxxx