Search results for 'tag:Hyphens tag:Quotation marks' matching tags 'Hyphens' and 'Quotation marks'

hyphenated noun

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:56:37 GMT

Hi,
I wonder what I need to conceptualize better what is involved in the use of a hyphento denote one aggregate noun.

possible instruction in a language game:

Let's play a "wh" game with wh-words.

At first, I think I can see why the word "wh-words" in linked with a hyphen and when the word "wh" is in quotation marks, but this knowledge is elusive. Sometimes, I think I get it and sometimes, I don't.

How about this?

She is a teacher-student.

I think I can see why it has been made a noun where two seemingly unlikely nouns are held together by a hyphen to form an aggregate noun (if I can call it that), but a clear explanation is escapiing me. Can you tell me what your explanation is for this kind of situation (if I have made it clear).

Re: Choices: Hyphenate or Quote?

CalifJim — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:05:26 GMT

Anonymous
I wonder what is the guidelines for deciding whether to use hyphens or quotation marks for cases like these.

... his way was a my-life-for-yours way. (Could one have written it using quotation markslike this: ... his way was a "my life for yours" way?)

I was taught that hyphens are always used in these cases -- if I understand clearly the sorts of cases you are referring to. I would never dream of using quotes. Remember, though, that punctuation differs from one style manual to another. You may get different advice depending what books you consult.

He had a very I-know-more-than-you-do attitude about it.

She gave me one of those push-over-and-give-me-some-room looks.

All I got was that of-course-you-can-do-it pep-talk that he gives everybody.

Since graduation was near, the professor got out his old this-is-the-beginning-of-the-rest-of-your-life speech.

Choices: Hyphenate or Quote?

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:21:39 GMT

Hi,
I wonder what is the guidelines for deciding whether to use hyphens or quotation marks for cases like these.

... his way was a my-life-for-yours way. (Could one have written it using quotation markslike this: ... his way was a "my life for yours" way?)

He had talked about my-life-for-yours as the Way and ... (Could one have written it this way? He had talked about "my life for yours" as the Way and .."

I am not sure but I think Mr. M said something about this in a thread and I think he said something like quoting is better when you have a choice between quoting and using hyphens. But I think in text, the method of putting quotation marks around a content is more often done for a non-clause type of word strings like "a how-to-do seminar," whereas when a clause or what looks like that is involved, quotation marks are used: a "how are you?" song. Can a question mark be inside the quotation marks?

Re: "all-hyphenated" noun

Clive — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:58:17 GMT

Hi,

How would you justify the use of hyphens to denote what seems to be a noun? I wouldn't try to justify it. At best, it's extremely casual, and at worst it's just lazy and unstructured English.

I think this string of words can be thought as a big noun made of little parts.

Could it be in quotations without hyphens and would it make a difference or no difference? It would make it more acceptable and common.

I think a problem might result if put quotation marks around it is that "way" is a noun.Why do you think that? What problem?

Then again, putting quotation marks makes it kind of an uncountable noun and I think we don't need to think about articles unless we are thinking of making it a type or an instance of it.

I think certain words like "am" or "so" are not hyphenated when used as part of a hyphenated noun or a hyphenated adjective. Why is that? I'm not sure what you mean. Can you give some sentences that include the kind of thing you are talking about?

... can dodge the big issue by settling into the cocoon of just-living-my-life-and-doing-what-I-can-in-my-own-little-way.

Could this be this? Yes >>>>>... can dodge the big issue by settling into the cocoon of "just living my life and doing what I can in my own little way."

Is there some reason that you can't just omit the quotation marks altogether?

Best wishes, Clive

"all-hyphenated" noun

Anonymous — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:01:11 GMT

Hi,
How would you justify the use of hyphens to denote what seems to be a noun? I think this string of words can be thought as a big noun made of little parts.

Could it be in quotations without hyphens and would it make a difference or no difference? I think a problem might result if put quotation marks around it is that "way" is a noun.

Then again, putting quotation marks makes it kind of an uncountable noun and I think we don't need to think about articles unless we are thinking of making it a type or an instance of it.

I think certain words like "am" or "so" are not hyphenated when used as part of a hyphenated noun or a hyphenated adjective. Why is that?

... can dodge the big issue by settling into the cocoon of just-living-my-life-and-doing-what-I-can-in-my-own-little-way.

Could this be this?

... can dodge the big issue by settling into the cocoon of "just living my life and doing what I can in my own little way."

quoted content as noun - long question

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:20:11 GMT

Hi,
Please take a look at this.

... involved with modern, western "come every two hours and sit in the room."

I am pretty sure you can treat "come every two hours and sit in the room" like an uncountable noun.

Can I make it a countable noun like this?
Everyday, a "come every two hours and sit in the toom" of this 'no-worry', carefree dude is making a lot of people feel uneasy. -- countable by an instance?
A highly idiosyncratic "come every two hours and sit in the room" of this carefree dude is taking a heavey toll on my freetime. -- countable by a type?
If the above sentence doesn't look correct, can you give me a correct one where a quoted content is countable?

Can I make it plural?
This 'no-worry', carefree dude's 'come-every-two-hours-and-sit-in-the-room's' are making a lot of people feel uneasy.
If the above sentence doesn't look correct, can you give me a correct one where a quoted content is countable? Normally, I think either a hyphen or quotation marks are needed but to make it plural, can I use both?

If I added the word 'hours', is there any consideration to be given as to whether to put that word outside the quote or inside?

These 'come every two hours and sit in the room hours' are taking a toll on my freetime.

These 'come every two hours and sit in the room' hours are taking a toll on my freetime.

Re: A sequel to an article before a gerund question

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:25:48 GMT

Hi,

I think I have seen more than enough cases where what people call a verbal noun has the indefinite article 'a' in front of it and at the very least, the sheer number (should it be - sheer numbrs??) of it warrants some good explanations from experts in this forum. I think I can laid out a similar framework of argument for a quoted content too.

These days, students from where I use to live don't study hard. A lot of people seem to feel "sit in your chair and do nothing for eight hours" should be replaced with a quality "sit-in-your-chair-and-do-some-work hours." -- I think I made into a type. I was trying to make it an instance of it though. Do you think all the hyphens in quote in allowed? I think Mr. M said we should use either a hyphen or quotation marks, but usually not both.

I must say, the indefinite article "a" doesn't seem to go well with "hours" in the quotes but see nothing wrong with it, IMO.

Re: how to make it a plural

Anonymous — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:13:54 GMT

Thank you, Mr.M.

Why did you choose to attach an 's' to both of them? I think the logic is that an apostrophe is used when there is a danger of confusion,as in '4's'. I think quotation marks are not necessary since normally you use either a pair of quotation marks or a hyphen when highlighting (Is this a right word for this context?) words that are not lifted (quoted??) out of someone's writing.

hyphenate or quote

Believer — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:23:08 GMT

Hi,

I think Mr. M once told me (or us) something to the effect that when you have to put a hyphenated word in the quotation marks, one mark is enough. I think what he meant is you can either choose the hyphen or quotation marks.

Can we use both or should we always use just one?

Adverbs as a "catch-all" category

You can give an "yes", "no" or "so-so" answer.

Sorry, this just came up, "did I place the article correctly? should it be 'an' before 'yes' although it is in quotes?"

an 'yes' answer not a 'yes' answer??

Re: What grammar parts are they?

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:55:05 GMT

Yes, Mr. M. It helps a lot.

It kind of engendered some inquiries, though.

1. In your interview in the English-test.net website, you said:

From there, it didn't take much thought to realize that I could eliminate the middle man and start my own school, lucrative enough to make Japan a good place to stay.

What is this part grammatically?

2. In the nonfinite clause portion of the sentence "heart racing and gasping for air as your body's automatic nervous system tries to figure out why it isn't getting enough oxygen," would you say 'heart' is a noun and it can be replaced with any other contextually appropriate noun? Usually, I think a nonfinite clause should exihibit the pattern of "racing and gasping for air as your body's automatic nervous system tries to figure out why it isn't getting enough oxygen." (without what seems to be the noun part -- 'heart'.)

3. In the same interview, you wrote:

We were presented wtih an inside view of the workings of ETS TOEIC preparation and presentation, and offered an opportunity to try our hand at question-writing.

The word 'question-writing' is linked with a hyphen. What is the reason or rationale for this? I do feel that it is the construction is correct but hoping to get some ideas as to what is required for a noun to be formed like that. Maybe something like this?

an action star-wannabe

4. Sorry to ask so many questions but if you are willing, can you tell me what are some criteria (if there are any) for an adjective in quotation marks? How unusal the usage or use of a word or phrase or clause has to be in order to adorn itself with a pair of quotation marks?

Are these good?

I think Mr. M is an online celebrity.

I don't think Mr. M is an "off-line" celebrity.