A NEVER-FAILS PLAN

[Migg]

would i write "a never-fail plan" or a "never-fails plan"?

[Migg]

checking

[bhaisahab]

Would I write "a never-fail plan" or a "never-fails plan"?

Neither is familiar to me. What is the context?

[Rover_KE]

Without further context, which you haven't bothered to give, I'd say never-fail sounds marginally better, but I can't see myself using either term.

Rover

[Migg]

my original post was inspired by a sports article about golf. The first paragraph runs like:

"If you're like me, your tee shots have a tendency to shoot into the woods faster than a scalded dog. Fear not, friends, there's a cure for all of us, as the New York Times tells us: a new, only-flies-straight golf ball! There's just one small catch ..."



In the first paragraph, the phrase "a new, only-flies-straight golf ball" was used. Why is the plain form of "fly" not used in the modifier position?

[Migg]

checking

[Migg]

my original post was inspired by a sports article about golf. The first paragraph runs like:

"If you're like me, your tee shots have a tendency to shoot into the woods faster than a scalded dog. Fear not, friends, there's a cure for all of us, as the New York Times tells us: a new, only-flies-straight golf ball! There's just one small catch ..."



In the first paragraph, the phrase "a new, only-flies-straight golf ball" was used. Why is the plain form of "fly" not used in the modifier position?

[bhaisahab]

my original post was inspired by a sports article about golf. The first paragraph runs like:

"If you're like me, your tee shots have a tendency to shoot into the woods faster than a scalded dog. Fear not, friends, there's a cure for all of us, as the New York Times tells us: a new, only-flies-straight golf ball! There's just one small catch ..."



In the first paragraph, the phrase "a new, only-flies-straight golf ball" was used. Why is the plain form of "fly" not used in the modifier position?

Please do not keep re-posting your question. Have some patience.

[konungursvia]

I'd move to the neo-Latin leg of English for this one:

an infallible plan.