Suspended Compounds





Previous Page



Suspended Compounds :


With a series of nearly identical compounds, we sometimes delay the final term of the final term until the last instance, allowing the hyphen to act as a kind of place holder, as in

  • The third- and fourth-grade teachers met with the parents.


  • Both full- and part-time employees will get raises this year.


  • We don't see many 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children around here.


  • Be careful not to overuse this feature of the hyphen; readers have to wait until that final instance to know what you're talking about, and that can be annoying.




















    English Glossary Index




    From Suspended Compounds to HOME PAGE



    Share
    Additional Info

    Follow These Links!


    {ezoic-ad-1}
    {ez_footer_ads}