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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Hyphens...
Hello, Please could someone give me a pointer on the use of a hyphen. I would really like to know which of the following is correct - and why, if poss: (basically the steering wheel mounted or steering-wheel-mounted bit)
"The revised CR-Z also gets a new Sport Plus (S+) boost system – activated by a steering-wheel-mounted button – that can provide extra electric power to boost acceleration for up to 10 seconds."
"The revised CR-Z also gets a new Sport Plus (S+) boost system – activated by a steering wheel-mounted button – that can provide extra electric power to boost acceleration for up to 10 seconds."
Many thanks
"The revised CR-Z also gets a new Sport Plus (S+) boost system – activated by a steering-wheel-mounted button – that can provide extra electric power to boost acceleration for up to 10 seconds."
"The revised CR-Z also gets a new Sport Plus (S+) boost system – activated by a steering wheel-mounted button – that can provide extra electric power to boost acceleration for up to 10 seconds."
Many thanks
Top answer
You have found a dark area of style. People disagree, because "steering wheel" is a two-word noun and disdains the hyphen. The Chicago Manual of Style wants an en dash in cases like this (steering wheel–mounted button), but I think that's just silly.
- You have found a dark area of style.
- People disagree, because "steering wheel" is a two-word noun and disdains the hyphen.
- The Chicago Manual of Style wants an en dash in cases like this (steering wheel–mounted button), but I think that's just silly.
- There are no rules etched in stone for this use of the hyphen.
- I recommend "steering-wheel-mounted button", because the adjective consists of all the words, and "steering wheel-mounted button" is irresistibly read as "wheel-mounted?
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2 Answers
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You have found a dark area of style. People disagree, because "steering wheel" is a two-word noun and disdains the hyphen. The Chicago Manual of Style wants an en dash in cases like this (steering wheel–mounted button), but I think that's just silly. There are no rules etched in stone for this use of the hyphen. I recommend "steering-wheel-mounted button", because the adjective consists of
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If the double hyphens annoy you in your writing, you can say "a button mounted on the steering wheel."
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