0
Usenet Posted 20 years ago
English in UK
Stringing together nouns
Are there any rules that govern the stringing together of nouns in English?
Example: "Foot" + "ball" + "player" = "football player", not "footballplayer" or "foot ball player".
Example: "Post" + "man" = "postman" (one word), but "post" + "office" = "post office" (two words).
In particular, I am currently trying to choose between "phonebook" (22.6 million hits on Google) and "phone book" (25.4 million hits on Google). Do I have complete freedom in making this choice?
Claus Tondering
Example: "Foot" + "ball" + "player" = "football player", not "footballplayer" or "foot ball player".
Example: "Post" + "man" = "postman" (one word), but "post" + "office" = "post office" (two words).
In particular, I am currently trying to choose between "phonebook" (22.6 million hits on Google) and "phone book" (25.4 million hits on Google). Do I have complete freedom in making this choice?
Claus Tondering
Top answer
[/nq] Possibly. [/nq] The concept of the game is a far more frequently used concept than that of a player of the game, which is perhaps why "football" became accepted as a compound word while "footballplayer" doesn't stand a chance, especially when there is a slightly more snappy term "footballer" already in existence. [/nq] My theory may be breaking down already.
- [/nq] Possibly.
- [/nq] The concept of the game is a far more frequently used concept than that of a player of the game, which is perhaps why "football" became accepted as a compound word while "footballplayer" doesn't stand a chance, especially when there is a slightly more snappy term "footballer" already in existence.
- [/nq] My theory may be breaking down already.
- Perhaps it is more to do with the fact that a post office says "Post Office" on it, so it was effectively cast in stone, while "postman" is probably how people, as distinct from an organisation, referred to someone who delivers mail.
- In these politically correct days you should probably use a gender-neutral term such as "postie", although "postwoman" and "post lady" exist.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
23 Answers
0
[nq:1]Are there any rules that govern the stringing together of nouns in English?[/nq]
Possibly.
[nq:1]Example: "Foot" + "ball" + "player" = "football player", not "footballplayer" or "foot ball player".[/nq]
The concept of the game is a far more frequently used concept than that of a player of the game, which is perhaps why "football" became accepted as a compound word while "football
Possibly.
[nq:1]Example: "Foot" + "ball" + "player" = "football player", not "footballplayer" or "foot ball player".[/nq]
The concept of the game is a far more frequently used concept than that of a player of the game, which is perhaps why "football" became accepted as a compound word while "football
00
[nq:2]Are there any rules that govern the stringing together of nouns in English?[/nq]
(Snip)
[nq:2]In particular, I am currently trying to choose between "phonebook" ... Google). Do I have complete freedom in making this choice?[/nq]
[nq:1]Google is no guide to correctness, only popularity. Collins' English Dictionary believes that the term should be two separate words.[/nq]
As is
(Snip)
[nq:2]In particular, I am currently trying to choose between "phonebook" ... Google). Do I have complete freedom in making this choice?[/nq]
[nq:1]Google is no guide to correctness, only popularity. Collins' English Dictionary believes that the term should be two separate words.[/nq]
As is
00
[nq:1]Are there any rules that govern the stringing together of nouns in English?[/nq]
The general progression seems to be two words > hyphenated > one word.
eg:
on line > on-line > online
Hyphens cause problems:
dictionaries swear that steam-engine is correct, which will come as news to most steam engine enthusiasts.
famous example:
hair-remover seems
The general progression seems to be two words > hyphenated > one word.
eg:
on line > on-line > online
Hyphens cause problems:
dictionaries swear that steam-engine is correct, which will come as news to most steam engine enthusiasts.
famous example:
hair-remover seems
00
15:10, giovedì 12 ottobre 2006, (Email Removed):
[nq:1]Are there any rules that govern the stringing together of nouns in English? Example: "Foot" + "ball" + "player" = ... hits on Google) and "phone book" (25.4 million hits on Google). Do I have complete freedom in making this choice?[/nq]
Maybe the number of syllables has some relevance?
"Man" is one syllable long, "office" is two sy
[nq:1]Are there any rules that govern the stringing together of nouns in English? Example: "Foot" + "ball" + "player" = ... hits on Google) and "phone book" (25.4 million hits on Google). Do I have complete freedom in making this choice?[/nq]
Maybe the number of syllables has some relevance?
"Man" is one syllable long, "office" is two sy
00
ADPUF schrieb:
[nq:2]Are there any rules that govern the stringing together of ... Google). Do I have complete freedom in making this choice?[/nq]
[nq:1]Maybe the number of syllables has some relevance? "Man" is one syllable long, "office" is two syllables long.[/nq]
As a teacher of english as a foreign language IK do use such a rule of thumb - one syllable nouns in regular combination
[nq:2]Are there any rules that govern the stringing together of ... Google). Do I have complete freedom in making this choice?[/nq]
[nq:1]Maybe the number of syllables has some relevance? "Man" is one syllable long, "office" is two syllables long.[/nq]
As a teacher of english as a foreign language IK do use such a rule of thumb - one syllable nouns in regular combination
00
However there alos seem to be numerous exceöptions to this rule.
But of course.............it is "English" we are talking about!! -))
Faith
But of course.............it is "English" we are talking about!! -))
Faith
00
[nq:1]My theory may be breaking down already. Perhaps it is more to do with the fact that a post office says "Post Office" on it, so it was effectively cast in stone,[/nq]
It appears to be set in stone as a registered trade mark now, and frequently occurs with initial capitals and the (TM) sign throughout passages of text - mainly those generated by the Post Office (TM), admittedly, but it doe
It appears to be set in stone as a registered trade mark now, and frequently occurs with initial capitals and the (TM) sign throughout passages of text - mainly those generated by the Post Office (TM), admittedly, but it doe
00
[nq:2]My theory may be breaking down already. Perhaps it is ... Office" on it, so it was effectively cast in stone,[/nq]
[nq:1]It appears to be set in stone as a registered trade mark now, and frequently occurs with initial capitals and ... Post Office (TM), admittedly, but it does tend to look incongruous in "I'm just popping down to the Post Office(TM)."[/nq]
It wouldn't say "TM" if it w
[nq:1]It appears to be set in stone as a registered trade mark now, and frequently occurs with initial capitals and ... Post Office (TM), admittedly, but it does tend to look incongruous in "I'm just popping down to the Post Office(TM)."[/nq]
It wouldn't say "TM" if it w
00
18:48, domenica 15 ottobre 2006, John Briggs:
[nq:2]It appears to be set in stone as a registered ... incongruous in "I'm just popping down to the Post Office(TM)."[/nq]
[nq:1]It wouldn't say "TM" if it was a registered trademark - you would use (R), ® if that comes out. You use "TM" for unregistered trademarks (the Patent Office (two words) prefer trade mark (two words), but I pref
[nq:2]It appears to be set in stone as a registered ... incongruous in "I'm just popping down to the Post Office(TM)."[/nq]
[nq:1]It wouldn't say "TM" if it was a registered trademark - you would use (R), ® if that comes out. You use "TM" for unregistered trademarks (the Patent Office (two words) prefer trade mark (two words), but I pref
00
[nq:1]18:48, domenica 15 ottobre 2006, John Briggs:[/nq]
[nq:2]It wouldn't say "TM" if it was a registered trademark ... trade mark (two words), but I prefer the one-word form).[/nq]
[nq:1]Is "prefer" correct? I'd write "prefers", (third person singular). Right? Or is "the Patent Office" a plural subject? (I'm Italian, a doubter Italian; or a dubious Italian, I don't know. :-)[/nq]
Wou
[nq:2]It wouldn't say "TM" if it was a registered trademark ... trade mark (two words), but I prefer the one-word form).[/nq]
[nq:1]Is "prefer" correct? I'd write "prefers", (third person singular). Right? Or is "the Patent Office" a plural subject? (I'm Italian, a doubter Italian; or a dubious Italian, I don't know. :-)[/nq]
Wou
0
Related Questions