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Grammarholic Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Singular entities vs ranges
I often see phrases such as '30-40 year old men', '60-70 year olds', etc within the same article or piece of work. For these ranges hyphens are omitted in the compound modifiers. But I will then see '...45-year-olds, a 45-year-old man' (both fully hyphenated throughout for the singular representations). Is it okay to punctuate ranges vs singular entities in this fashion? Thank you...... 
Top answer
Grammarholic Is it okay to punctuate ranges vs singular entities in this fashion? With multiple hyphens, it is too clumsy for some writers and editors when the meaning is clear without them.
- Grammarholic Is it okay to punctuate ranges vs singular entities in this fashion?
- With multiple hyphens, it is too clumsy for some writers and editors when the meaning is clear without them.
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2 Answers
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Grammarholic Is it okay to punctuate ranges vs singular entities in this fashion?With multiple hyphens, it is too clumsy for some writers and editors when the meaning is clear without them.
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Would you write it this way, Mister Micawber?
These seem very clear, no?
5-10 year old children
But: 10-year-old children
15-20 foot hole
But: 20-foot hole
1-2 inch deep cut
But: 2-inch-deep cut
These seem very clear, no?
5-10 year old children
But: 10-year-old children
15-20 foot hole
But: 20-foot hole
1-2 inch deep cut
But: 2-inch-deep cut
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