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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Hyphenation
Black leather shoes.
Black-leather shoes.
Can we use either here, since we could argue that 'black' modifies either the leather or the shoes? (that is, since the leather is black, the shoes are also black).
Thanks
Black-leather shoes.
Can we use either here, since we could argue that 'black' modifies either the leather or the shoes? (that is, since the leather is black, the shoes are also black).
Thanks
Top answer
Theoretically you could, but there is no particular fabric called black leather, so the hyphen is odd indeed.
- Theoretically you could, but there is no particular fabric called black leather, so the hyphen is odd indeed.
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6 Answers
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Theoretically you could, but there is no particular fabric called black leather, so the hyphen is odd indeed.
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Mister Micawberbut there is no particular fabric called black leather, so the hyphen is odd indeed
The fabric may not be called black leather, though. Couldn't black be modifying leather, and the compound modifier modifies boots?
Also, if no hyphen is needed as you say, then shouldn't there be a comma between black and leather to separate the two
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The fabric may not be called black leather, though. Couldn't black be modifying leather, and the compound modifier modifies boots?-- If it does, still no hyphen needed.
Also, if no hyphen is needed as you say, then shouldn't there be a comma between black and leather to separate the two adjectives?-- No comma needed either.
No Confusion, No Punctuation.
Also, if no hyphen is needed as you say, then shouldn't there be a comma between black and leather to separate the two adjectives?-- No comma needed either.
No Confusion, No Punctuation.
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Mister MicawberNo Confusion, No Punctuation.
Wow, I didn't know this!
So we would say a not b, since there is no confusion?
a) The angry sad man
b) The angry, sad man.
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Wow, I didn't know this!-- And a lot of style guides don't either. I will tell you plainly that I am drifting away from punctuation regulations, so you are liable to meet very consflicting opinions from others.
Re the sentences, it would be sad angry (or sad, angry)-- here I would put a comma if the 2 adjectives are equally and unequivocally welded to man. With yo
Re the sentences, it would be sad angry (or sad, angry)-- here I would put a comma if the 2 adjectives are equally and unequivocally welded to man. With yo
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Mister MicawberDoes that make any sense, or have we reached one of our culs-de-sac again?
No, I understand. We could have different meanings depending on whether we punctuate the (angry sad sentence), so we use punctuation for clarity. There is only one meaning with the other sentence, so we needn't punctuate.
I've noticed you are all about simpl
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