0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Hyphens?

I realize I just asked this; but I think after someone posted an answer, it was no longer going to be addressed.

Here is my sentence, and I put hyphens where I thought they need to be; however, it looks awkward:

She has a 9.8-feet-per-second running-rate average.

I can't change the wording as it is a transcript, and I have to have it word for word.

Please help!

Thank you!
  

Top answer

Hi, Those were the words that was said, right? So, no problem. Remember that people don't speak 'hyphens'.

— Clive

  • Hi, Those were the words that was said, right?
  • So, no problem.
  • Remember that people don't speak 'hyphens'.
  • They are just an aid in writing.
  • They are not out of place here.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
Hi,

Those were the words that was said, right? So, no problem.

Remember that people don't speak 'hyphens'. They are just an aid in writing. They are not out of place here.

Clive (again)
0
0
I just wanted to make sure I put the hyphens in the right place.

So, they look fine where they are?

Thank you!!
0
0
No, they don't look fine, because what was said was never what someone writing carefully would write! However, it wasn't written carefully, it was spoken on the fly, and few of us, writers included, are very good at producing what would be good writing when we speak.

Therefore, given that you must use exactly those words, in that order, you have done the best that possibly be done with t
0
0
Anonymous She has a 9.8-feet-per-second running-rate average.
I guess you're talking about an audio transcript. What difference does it make where the hyphen's go? Why not put one after "second"?

I've never in my life heard an educated person say "nine-feet average." It should be "nine-foot average." Are you sure that's what you're hearing?
0

Related Questions