Anonymous  +  753245 Thu, 28 May 09 10:59 PM I realize I just asked this; but I think after someone posted an answer, it was no longer going to be addressed.   Here is my sentence, and I put hyphens where I thought they need to be; however, it looks awkward:   She has a 9.8-feet-per-second running-rate average.   I can't change the wording as it is a transcript, and I have to have it word for word.   Please help! Thank you! Anonymous Punctuation, Hyphenation, Sentences

	Clive  +  753253 Thu, 28 May 09 11:17 PM Hi, Those were the words that was said, right? So, no problem.   Remember that people don't speak 'hyphens'. They are just an aid in writing. They are not out of place here.   Clive (again)     Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,585 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Punctuation, Hyphenation

	Grammar Geek  +  753439 Fri, 29 May 09 02:18 AM No, they don't look fine, because what was said was never what someone writing carefully would write! However, it wasn't written carefully, it was spoken on the fly, and few of us, writers included, are very good at producing what would be good writing when we speak.   Therefore, given that you must use exactly those words, in that order, you have done the best that possibly be done with that phrasing.     Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,652 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Avangi  +  753648 Fri, 29 May 09 06:13 AM Anonymous “ She has a 9.8-feet-per-second running-rate average.”   I guess you're talking about an audio transcript.  What difference does it make where the hyphen's go?  Why not put one after "second"? I've never in my life heard an educated person say "nine-feet average."  It should be "nine-foot average."  Are you sure that's what you're hearing? If someone says, "What was the average?" then you may say, "Nine feet." Perhaps you've already discussed thls.  I haven't seen your original thread.  Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,172 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier Punctuation, Hyphenation, Speaking, Chat, Friendships