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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Hyphens and 'type'

How common are these types of illness(es)

Those kinds of colours look good with dark skin

How come we have the option of plural or sungular in the first but not the second?

What does 'type' mean below, and should we use a hyphen?

It is a computer-type program.

The reference-type form I received...

It was a slow, boring-type game. (This seems to be short for It was a slow, boring type of game)

Thanks
  

Top answer

Well, I think the option exists in the second as well-- with both 'illness' and 'colour' considered uncountable. -type is a rather sloppy modern suffix that you can slap as hoc on seemingly any noun or adjective. Use the hyphen there, but it is casual English; you would have to recast to make it formal: 'it is a type of program used in computers', etc.

— Mister Micawber

  • Well, I think the option exists in the second as well-- with both 'illness' and 'colour' considered uncountable.
  • -type is a rather sloppy modern suffix that you can slap as hoc on seemingly any noun or adjective.
  • Use the hyphen there, but it is casual English; you would have to recast to make it formal: 'it is a type of program used in computers', etc.
  • It does have more reputable uses: -type a suffix representing type ( prototype ), esp.
  • in names of photographic processes: ferrotype.
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9 Answers
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Well, I think the option exists in the second as well-- with both 'illness' and 'colour' considered uncountable.

-type is a rather sloppy modern suffix that you can slap as hoc on seemingly any noun or adjective. Use the hyphen there, but it is casual English; you would have to recast to make it formal: 'it is a type of program used in computers', etc.

It does have more r
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Thanks.

I thought uncountable nouns couldn't be plural...?
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They're not. It is 'types' that is plural.
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Mister MicawberThey're not. It is 'types' that is plural

But illnesses is plural in my first sentence. HOw come we can use the plural or singular illnesses in the first sentence, but only the singular 'colour' in the second?

Sorry If I have just missed your point.
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As I said in my first post, the option exists in the second as well. Colour or colours.
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So how come we can use plural forms of these nouns 'colours' and 'illnesses' when they are uncountable?

Once again, I'm sorry if I have missed your point.
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They are both count and non-count nouns.
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English 1b3So how come we can use plural forms of these nouns 'colours' and 'illnesses' when they are uncountable?
You know, you have the most impertinent way of phrasing your questions that I have ever encountered on this kind of forum.

BillJ
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I am sorry, BillJ. I mean not to be rude. I will do utmost to better.
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