[General] mid-to-late

[LaMelange]

Hello teachers,


I am having a question regarding hyphenation.

The phrase in question is "mid-to-late" 1990s.

Is the hyphenation correct here, or should it be "the mid- to late 1990s"?

Thank you!
Have a great day!

 

[Barb_D]

Their popularity reached a peak in the mid- to late-1990s.

It's called a suspended hyphen.

 

[LaMelange]

Their popularity reached a peak in the mid- to late-1990s.

Yes, I am aware of suspended hyphens.

My doubt is, do we need a hyphen between late and 1990s?

Would "mid- to late 1990s" be wrong?

We normally write The school was built in the late 1970s. (Example taken from Oxford Advanced Learners' Dictionary.)

Thank you for your patience.

 

[Barb_D]

Ugh. That's what I get for changing my example half-way through.
They were a mid- to late-90s phenomenon.

I would not use the hyphens without the phrase appearing before a noun, but I wouldn't find using it an abomination.

 

[GoesStation]

My doubt is, do we need a hyphen between late and 1990s?

Other members have answered your query. I want to point out that in international English, you have a question, not a doubt.

 

[LaMelange]

Thank you! I shall keep that in mind.

 

[Tarheel]

Please say:

I have a question.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think Tarheel was referring to the OP's use of "I am having a question" in post #1, rather than GoesStation's point which referred to "My doubt is ..." in post #3.

 

[LaMelange]

Please say:

I have a question.

Now I realise my mistake. Thank you for pointing it out!

 

[LaMelange]

Could you please tell me what "OP"" means? It is very new to me!