[Grammar] help with hyphen

[jutfrank]

why would the author write an unlikely event like that?

That's the question. Evidently as an attempt to point out how badly-punctuated sentences can cause ambiguity.

(Not to point out how badly punctuated sentences can cause ambiguity.)

 

[HeartShape]

That's the question. Evidently as an attempt to point out how badly-punctuated sentences can cause ambiguity.

(Not to point out how badly punctuated sentences can cause ambiguity.)

As much as I like to think that, I don't think that was the author's intention. See attachment.

 

[HeartShape]

Here's a quiz: can you tell which one is correct?

1. I can't believe that the latest handheld console will be priced at only ninety-nine pounds.

2. I can't believe that the latest hand-held console will be priced at only ninety-nine pounds.

 

[jutfrank]

As much as I like to think that, I don't think that was the author's intention. See attachment.

No, the attachment confirms just what I said. When it says clear, read unambiguous.

 

[jutfrank]

Here's a quiz: can you tell which one is correct?

1. I can't believe that the latest handheld console will be priced at only ninety-nine pounds.

2. I can't believe that the latest hand-held console will be priced at only ninety-nine pounds.

Actually, there exist no 'rules' to govern whether a word is hyphenated or written as a single word. The most sensible guideline to follow would probably be to go with frequency. That is, go with what is the most common, which in this case is probably handheld, but it's really a question of style. This is often something that changes over time.

 

[HeartShape]

No, the attachment confirms just what I said. When it says clear, read unambiguous.

I agree badly-punctuated sentences can cause ambiguity, but the second sentence "2. She gave back the stolen-vehicle registration." is ambiguous, is it not?

 

[jutfrank]

I agree badly-punctuated sentences can cause ambiguity, but the second sentence "2. She gave back the stolen-vehicle registration." is ambiguous, is it not?

The writer's point is that it's not ambiguous.

stolen-vehicle registration = unambiguous (The vehicle was stolen.)
stolen vehicle registration = ambiguous (What was stolen? The vehicle or the registration?)

 

[HeartShape]

Actually, there exist no 'rules' to govern whether a word is hyphenated or written as a single word. The most sensible guideline to follow would probably be to go with frequency. That is, go with what is the most common, which in this case is probably handheld, but it's really a question of style. This is often something that changes over time.

That's exactly my thought. But in this quiz that the author prepared, he says sentence 1 is wrong and sentence 2 is right. That completely contradict what he taught in his course material (and all other tutorials out on the web). As I remember, the author says, if in doubt use a dictionary, so I did exactly that. The dictionary notes a closed version of handheld.

To be fair, according to grammar rules neither is wrong; they are both grammatically correct because handheld exist in the dictionary and hand-held satisfied the compound adjective.

Then I wondered is there a precedence over which one to use?

I think the author should not have used the two sentences to illustrate correct grammar, because technically he is also wrong.

 

[HeartShape]

The sentence opens up to different interpretations. If there is more than one interpretation then that means there's ambiguity.

 

[GoesStation]

The sentence opens up to different interpretations. If there is more than one interpretation then that means there's ambiguity.

If you're talking about "She gave back the stolen-vehicle registration", the hyphen makes it unambiguous. Stolen-vehicle is a compound adjective modifying registration.

The intended meaning is unclear to me though because I don't know what a stolen-vehicle registration is supposed to be.

 

[HeartShape]

If you're talking about "She gave back the stolen-vehicle registration", the hyphen makes it unambiguous. Stolen-vehicle is a compound adjective modifying registration.

The intended meaning is unclear to me though because I don't know what a stolen-vehicle registration is supposed to be.

I don’t have any disagreement with compound adjective just the sentence as a whole. Anyway, I’m moving forward as everything I need to know is done.