[Grammar] A NEVER-FAILS PLAN

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Migg

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

Migg

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bhaisahab

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Would I write "a never-fail plan" or a "never-fails plan"?
Neither is familiar to me. What is the context?
 

Rover_KE

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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

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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

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Migg

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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

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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

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

an infallible plan.
 
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