Hyphenating a measure with many words

Question

Please, when hyphenating a measurement with many words, should I add hyphens between all the words?

Examples: an 8-by-10-inch photograph, a 2-by-3-by-4-inch box.

Also, I know that I should always write ordinals up to number 10, but considering the examples above, are there any exceptions regarding this rule? Perhaps by using two or more numbers as in my examples? Or should I just write "a two-by-three-by-four-inch box"?

I would love to know what is the correct way to write this kind of information in the most succinct way in English, as few characters as possible!

Thank you very much.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

anonymousI would love to know what is the correct way to write this kind of information in the most succinct way in English, as few characters as possible!

Buy yourself a stylebook. A writer's guide from the local college bookstore will do. Punctuation is complex and tricky.

anonymousPlease, when hyphenating a measurement with many words, should I add hyphens between all the words?Examples: an 8-by-10-inch photograph, a 2-by-3-by-4-inch box.

Yes. Use one hyphen, you have to use them all. There are other ways to do it.

An 8 by 10 photograph. (it is usual to omit "inch")

An 8 by 10.

An 8x10 photograph.

An 8X10 photograph.

An 8×10 photograph. (ALT 0215)

The exact style depends on who you are writing for.

A 2x3x4-inch box.

anonymousAlso, I know that I should always write ordinals up to number 10,

Up to nine. Single-digit numbers. But that is a only a general rule of thumb. In fiction, it varies, but often larger numbers get written out because numerals break the flow of reading.

anonymousbut considering the examples above, are there any exceptions regarding this rule? Perhaps by using two or more numbers as in my examples?

There are many exceptions, and that is why you need a stylebook. The number of numbers, if you will, has no bearing on the matter except that when there are some larger numbers describing the same sort of things, you might want to use arabic numerals for the single-digit ones as well for consistency.

anonymousOr should I just write "a two-by-three-by-four-inch box"?

That's fine, but the numerals are often used for measurements.

Hyphenating a measure with many words

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions