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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Adjectives
Is there anyone who could tell me what’s the difference between
1. a) a fast, moving car and b) a fast moving car
2. a) the old village life ; b) the old, village life c) the oldvillage’s life
3. Which word could be used either as an adjective or a noun in thefollowing sentences:
a) She was a…………………, lovely lady (adjective)
b) She was a …………………, a lovely lady (noun)
Thanks,
HF
1. a) a fast, moving car and b) a fast moving car
2. a) the old village life ; b) the old, village life c) the oldvillage’s life
3. Which word could be used either as an adjective or a noun in thefollowing sentences:
a) She was a…………………, lovely lady (adjective)
b) She was a …………………, a lovely lady (noun)
Thanks,
HF
Top answer
[nq:1]Is there anyone who could tell me what’s the difference between 1. a) a fast, moving car and b) a fast moving car[/nq] Strictly speaking, case b means the car is currently moving fast, but case a means that its maximum speed is high and the car is currently in motion, without saying whether it is now moving fast or slowly. careful speakers and writers aim at clarity and precision rather than conformity to any supposed rules; and usually rephrase or expand the dictum if they foresee any harmful confusion.
- [nq:1]Is there anyone who could tell me what’s the difference between 1.
- a) a fast, moving car and b) a fast moving car[/nq] Strictly speaking, case b means the car is currently moving fast, but case a means that its maximum speed is high and the car is currently in motion, without saying whether it is now moving fast or slowly.
- careful speakers and writers aim at clarity and precision rather than conformity to any supposed rules; and usually rephrase or expand the dictum if they foresee any harmful confusion.
- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
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15 Answers
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[nq:1]Is there anyone who could tell me what’s the difference between 1. a) a fast, moving car and b) a fast moving car[/nq]
Strictly speaking, case b means the car is currently moving fast, but case a means that its maximum speed is high and the car is currently in motion, without saying whether it is now moving fast or slowly.
But usage trumps rules: i.e.careful speakers and writers aim
Strictly speaking, case b means the car is currently moving fast, but case a means that its maximum speed is high and the car is currently in motion, without saying whether it is now moving fast or slowly.
But usage trumps rules: i.e.careful speakers and writers aim
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[nq:2]Is there anyone who could tell me what’s the difference between 1. a) a fast, moving car and b) a fast moving car[/nq]
[nq:1]Strictly speaking, case b means the car is currently moving fast, but case a means that its maximum speed is ... rather than conformity to any supposed rules; and usually rephrase or expand the dictum if they foresee any harmful confusion.[/nq]
May I ask?:
[nq:1]Strictly speaking, case b means the car is currently moving fast, but case a means that its maximum speed is ... rather than conformity to any supposed rules; and usually rephrase or expand the dictum if they foresee any harmful confusion.[/nq]
May I ask?:
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[nq:1]Would it be valid in case b) to say: a fast-moving car. What I mean is, would it be valid ... a hyphen so as to "attach" the word "fast" to "moving" thus indicating that it qualifies "moving" rather than "car"?[/nq]
Indeed, I believe that would be the only correct way to write it. (In other words, "fast moving" and "fast, moving" are both incorrect.)
-Aaron J. Dinkin
Dr. Who
Indeed, I believe that would be the only correct way to write it. (In other words, "fast moving" and "fast, moving" are both incorrect.)
-Aaron J. Dinkin
Dr. Who
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[nq:2]Would it be valid in case b) to say: a ... "moving" thus indicating that it qualifies "moving" rather than "car"?[/nq]
[nq:1]Indeed, I believe that would be the only correct way to write it. (In other words, "fast moving" and "fast, moving" are both incorrect.)[/nq]
A lot of modern style guides (this is being hashed out in another thread, isn't it) encourage leaving out hyphens when
[nq:1]Indeed, I believe that would be the only correct way to write it. (In other words, "fast moving" and "fast, moving" are both incorrect.)[/nq]
A lot of modern style guides (this is being hashed out in another thread, isn't it) encourage leaving out hyphens when
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[nq:1]Is there anyone who could tell me what’s the difference between : 1. a) a fast, moving car and b) a fast moving car[/nq]
Both are incorrect usage. Correct: a) a fast car; b) a fast-moving car.
[nq:1]2. a) the old village life ; b) the old, village life c) the old village’s life[/nq]
2a means "the former life of villages"; 2b is wrong since "old" qualifies "village life"; 2c means
Both are incorrect usage. Correct: a) a fast car; b) a fast-moving car.
[nq:1]2. a) the old village life ; b) the old, village life c) the old village’s life[/nq]
2a means "the former life of villages"; 2b is wrong since "old" qualifies "village life"; 2c means
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[nq:1]A lot of modern style guides (this is being hashed out in another thread, isn't it) encourage leaving out hyphens ... the hyphen, because (in AmE at any rate) a "moving van" means something other than a van that is moving.[/nq]
As I understand it, the rule is that the hyphen should be left out if the first word is an adverb, since the adverb is modifying the following adjective, it canno
As I understand it, the rule is that the hyphen should be left out if the first word is an adverb, since the adverb is modifying the following adjective, it canno
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[nq:1]As I understand it, the rule is that the hyphen should be left out if the first word is an ... for example, that people are more likely to write "ill-fitting" than "ill fitting", even though clothes can hardly be ill.[/nq]
It's more complicated than that. (And I'd write "slowly-moving", or, more likely, "slow-moving", but not "slowly moving".) Note that these cases all deal with particip
It's more complicated than that. (And I'd write "slowly-moving", or, more likely, "slow-moving", but not "slowly moving".) Note that these cases all deal with particip
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[nq:2]As I understand it, the rule is that the hyphen ... than "ill fitting", even though clothes can hardly be ill.[/nq]
[nq:1]It's more complicated than that. (And I'd write "slowly-moving", or, more likely, "slow-moving", but not "slowly moving".) Note that these ... is to say, "ill-fitting" isn't "ill" + "fitting"; it's "fit ill" + "-ing". Similarly, "fast-moving" is "move fast" + "-ing".[
[nq:1]It's more complicated than that. (And I'd write "slowly-moving", or, more likely, "slow-moving", but not "slowly moving".) Note that these ... is to say, "ill-fitting" isn't "ill" + "fitting"; it's "fit ill" + "-ing". Similarly, "fast-moving" is "move fast" + "-ing".[
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[nq:1]I'd write "slowly-moving"[/nq]
But any Chicago-following editor would remove your hyphen for you!
But any Chicago-following editor would remove your hyphen for you!
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[nq:2]I'd write "slowly-moving"[/nq]
[nq:1]But any Chicago-following editor would remove your hyphen for you![/nq]
Do they have casting couches too?
(I assume that's not casting-couches with a lost hyphen.)
wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Quiet part of Hertfordshire
England
ht
[nq:1]But any Chicago-following editor would remove your hyphen for you![/nq]
Do they have casting couches too?
(I assume that's not casting-couches with a lost hyphen.)
wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Quiet part of Hertfordshire
England
ht
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