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Joined: Jul 2005
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773 |
An AP story a while back described a "...hole 6-feet deep” parallel to the practice undertaken by Consumer Reports maybe a decade ago: eg, “...3-million dollars,” a hyphen application unusual at the time and perhaps distracting to some readers. It still jars me every time I encounter it
I suppose you could argue that "3-million" modifies "dollars" but the construction is or was contrary to convention
In “6-ft. holes” the hyphen is of course correct because it identifies a compound adjective; otherwise we might think there’s such a thing as a “foot hole,” and that there were six of them
But I’m confused about the rationale behind holes 6-feet deep and I hope one of your lingo-proficient bloggers can help me out here–Thank you all
dalehileman
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
addict
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addict
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It is indeed bollix and part of the literary decline of civilization. Blame the apologists.
ÅΓª╥┐↕§
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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I think hyphens are overused any way so don't go by anything I say.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773 |
dalehileman
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773 |
dalehileman
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
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I refer to the "Associated Press Stylebook"
available to non-journalists. Just Google it.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773 |
wow: Thank you for that. But perhaps you could provide a pertinent link, saving lazy folk (eg, me) the trouble
dalehileman
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