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Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

hyphenate or not to

0Hi,02br
02br
00I think we all use a short or long phrase or clause sometimes as an adjective to say what we want as we see fit, but I have difficulty distinguishing which situation needs to be hyphenated and when not.02br
02br
00Please answer these how-to-do questions. Or02br
02br
00Please answer these 'how to do' questions.02br
02br
00Are there any guidelines for this kind of sentential situations? 02br
02br
00Certainly a person wouldn't hyphenate some very fixed? phrases or clauses like the one below I think:02br
02br
00Please respond to these "How are you?" questions.0-
  

Top answer

02font 02br 02br 00In his Practical English Usage', Michael Swan comments thus. 01i 00The rules about hyphens are not very clear. When in doubt, leave them out.

— Clive

  • 02font 02br 02br 00In his Practical English Usage', Michael Swan comments thus.
  • 01i 00The rules about hyphens are not very clear.
  • When in doubt, leave them out.
  • 02i 02br 02br 01i 00Hyphens are 01b 00often02b 00 used when a group of words is used as an adjective.
  • 02i 02br 02br 00Here are a couple more comments, from me.
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1 Answers
0
0Hi,02br
02br
01font00I think we all use a short or long phrase or clause sometimes as an adjective to say what we want as we see fit, but I have difficulty distinguishing which situation needs to be hyphenated and when not.02font02br
02br
00In his Practical English Usage', Michael Swan comments thus. 01i00Th
0

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