Doing a run

[eyefordetail]

Can you say that you're doing, say, at least a mile run a day this month, e.g. I'm doing a three mile run a day this month.

Thanks

 

[5jj]

Yes, but there needs to be a hyphen between 'three' and 'mile'

 

[probus]

Yes, but there needs to be a hyphen between 'three' and 'mile'

With the greatest respect, I think there does not. In my opinion/observation, these hyphens are passing away.

 

[Rover_KE]

...these hyphens are passing away.

Over my dead body!

The hyphens clarify the meaning.

'I'm doing three mile runs every day this week (I'm doing three separate one-mile runs)' and 'I'm doing three-mile runs every day...(I'm doing a three-mile run every day)'.


'I look after three year-old children.' (There are three children who are each one year old.)

'I look after three-year-old children.' (There are an unspecified number of children who are each three years old.)

Rover

 

[eyefordetail]

Thanks for your replies. It seems I was correct to begin with (no hyphen needed between 'three' and 'mile').

Over my dead body!

The hyphens clarify the meaning.

'I'm doing three mile runs every day this week (I'm doing three separate one-mile runs)' and 'I'm doing three-mile runs every day...(I'm doing a three-mile run every day)'.


'I look after three year-old children.' (There are three children who are each one year old.)

'I look after three-year-old children.' (There are an unspecified number of children who are each three years old.)

Rover

The use of a hyphen does not clarify my example.

 

[5jj]

You need the hyphen.

 

[TomUK]

Not a teacher!

Thanks for your replies. It seems I was correct to begin with (no hyphen needed between 'three' and 'mile').

The use of a hyphen does not clarify my example.

Maybe a look in Michael Swan's "Practical English Usage" will remove all doubt that a hyphen is required in your example:

"386 noun + noun (2): advanced points

5 measurement: a five-litre can

Noun + noun is used in measurements with a number before the first noun. The number is usually joined to the first noun by a hyphen (-)."

Some of the examples given: "a six-pound chicken". "a three-mile walk", "ten two-hour lessons".


Personally, I like to do a run, but I don't think it is a good idea to do a runner in because I don't want to have to do a runner. - This has nothing to do with the original question, but I thought it is a nice example of how a slight change of words can totally change the meaning of an expression (from running to killing to running away).

TomUK

 

[Rover_KE]

Are you sure about "a three mile-walk", Tom?

 

[TomUK]

Are you sure about "a three mile-walk", Tom?

Thank you for pointing this out. I have corrected it now.

TomUK

 

[probus]

You should be cautious about coming to that conclusion. I stand by my opinion but it is only one opinion.

 

[eyefordetail]

It seems probus is outnumbered. It also seems that using the hyphen is definately not incorrect.

 

[Barb_D]

Using the hyphen is definitely correct.

The debate is whether *not* using it could also be correct. It is not, in my opinion. It is, in his opinion.