1. dillseed

    dillseed Active Member

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    Hyphens to show connection in money range (compound modifiers)

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by dillseed, May 25, 2014.

    Sorry, but again, without rewording, would you support (in nonfiction) the punctuation in the two examples below? I believe the hyphens are necessary to show the relation of $95 (which is $95,000) to $100,000. The hyphen after $100 (which is $100 million) shows the connection to $150 million).

    (1) They shared a $95-to-$100,000-a-year joint income.

    (2) Her grandfather once owned and operated a $100-to-$150-million-a-year business in Tampa.

    And in these two, if we repeated the '000' and 'million,' do these look right, too?

    (3) They shared a
    $95,000-to-$100,000-a-year joint income.

    (4) Her grandfather once owned and operated a $100-million-to-$150-million-a-year business in Tampa.

    I also think that:

    (5) a $150-million-a-year industry (with the hyphen after $150) is correct. Do you concur?

    Thanks. :)
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2014
  2. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    again, when multiple words are used as an adjective, they are hyphenated

    print it out in large font, post it over your computer screen and keep that rule in mind and you won't have to post so many threads on the same issue...
     
  3. dillseed

    dillseed Active Member

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    I will. :) Do you support all five examples, maia--yes or no?

    Nobody likes a dangling hyphen. So I think 'four-to-five-year-old children' looks better than
    'four- to five-year-old children,' yes or no?
     
  4. dillseed

    dillseed Active Member

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    If it's any consolation, I'm nearing my end with questions. :)
     
  5. dillseed

    dillseed Active Member

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    Thank God, huh? :agreed:
     
  6. dillseed

    dillseed Active Member

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    Thanks.
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2014

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