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Henry74 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
20- 0r 50-cent coins
Hello,
consider, if you would, the sentence:
- The vending machine only takes 20- or 50-cent coins.
(Let's assume that in your country there are those denominations).
1) Is the boldface phrase written correctly?
2) Would you use 'take' as a verb? Would 'accept' be a valid alternative?
3) Is this the natural way you would say this, or would you put it another way?
Thank you for your help!
H.
consider, if you would, the sentence:
- The vending machine only takes 20- or 50-cent coins.
(Let's assume that in your country there are those denominations).
1) Is the boldface phrase written correctly?
2) Would you use 'take' as a verb? Would 'accept' be a valid alternative?
3) Is this the natural way you would say this, or would you put it another way?
Thank you for your help!
H.
Top answer
1. Yes, it's called a suspended hyphen. 2.
- 1.
- Yes, it's called a suspended hyphen.
- 2.
- Either one is good.
- 3.
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9 Answers
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1. Yes, it's called a suspended hyphen.
2. Either one is good.
3. Yes, or with "accepts" as you suggest. Or "You can only use..."
2. Either one is good.
3. Yes, or with "accepts" as you suggest. Or "You can only use..."
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Thank you Grammar Geek.
I have a follow-up question, if I may.
Suppose your list of denominations was longer. Would you write
- You can only use 5-, 10-, 20- or 50-cent coins?
If I wanted to reverse the sentence and say
- You can only use coins ___ 5, 10, 20 or 50 cents, what preposition should I use?
Thanks again.
H.
I have a follow-up question, if I may.
Suppose your list of denominations was longer. Would you write
- You can only use 5-, 10-, 20- or 50-cent coins?
If I wanted to reverse the sentence and say
- You can only use coins ___ 5, 10, 20 or 50 cents, what preposition should I use?
Thanks again.
H.
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I know this is only an example to talk about the suspended hyphen, so I'm going to overlook that if the machine takes that many denominations, you are probably safe with whatever is in your pocket.
While I'm not aware of any rule that prohibits using multiple suspended hyphens in a row, as you aveh done, you risk awkwardness.
I'm struggling to make a natural sentence with your s
While I'm not aware of any rule that prohibits using multiple suspended hyphens in a row, as you aveh done, you risk awkwardness.
I'm struggling to make a natural sentence with your s
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Grammar Geekusing multiple suspended hyphens in a row, as you aveh done, you risk awkwardnessRight. I was afraid too many suspended hyphens and commas would read awkwardly.
Grammar GeekCoins of the following denominations can by used: 5 cents, 10 cents, 20, cents, and 50 cents.I see. So, there's no real alternative to repe
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No, don't say "a coin of five cents." You will sound like you dropped out of another century.
In the US, coins have names. Pennies (1), nickels (5), dimes (10), and quarters (25).
So you'd actually say something like "It takes nickels, dimes, or quarters - no pennies, though."
In the US, coins have names. Pennies (1), nickels (5), dimes (10), and quarters (25).
So you'd actually say something like "It takes nickels, dimes, or quarters - no pennies, though."
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The sentence, "The vending machine only takes 20- or 50-cent coins.", is grammatically correct. However, it doesn't sound natural. In the US today this would be typically said as: "The vending machine only takes fifth dollars (there is no 20 cent coin in the US so I invented one for this example) or half dollars (there is a 50 cent coin in the US called a half dollar)." That is, in a sentence
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In your second example, again, it's correct grammatically but doesn't sound natural. In the US this would typically be said as: "You can only use nickels, dimes, fifth dollars (a ficticious 20 cent coin), or half dollars."
Another version you might hear in the US is: "You can only use five cents, 10 cents, 20 cents (a ficticious 20 cent coin), or 50 cents."
And in your previou
Another version you might hear in the US is: "You can only use five cents, 10 cents, 20 cents (a ficticious 20 cent coin), or 50 cents."
And in your previou
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AnonymousThe vending machine only takes fifth dollarsThat is most unnatural.
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