Tags:
  1. dillseed

    dillseed Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2013
    Messages:
    390
    Likes Received:
    19

    CMOS -- Hyphens Throughout?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by dillseed, May 3, 2015.

    The following style is for nonfiction.
    --------
    CMOS said to me in an email reply, "Please see CMOS 6.80; an en dash is used to prevent confusion; it’s a style choice, not a rule that cannot be broken. None of your phrases are enhanced by an en dash. It doesn’t improve comprehension, and the mixture of hyphens and en dashes simply looks like bad typesetting. We do not endorse ungainly modifier strings like the ones in your examples, but if you are forced to use them, just use hyphens:
    (e.g. $3-$5-million-a-year contract, not a
    $3–$5-million-a-year contract)."
    -----

    That said, do all of the following examples look correct based on Chicago's guidance above?

    25-30-year mortgage
    30-40-year-old period
    45-50-year-old patients
    every single 65-70-year-old

    1-2-pound weight loss
    10-20-mile hike
    3-5-gallon container
    10-20-liter batch of fresh agave juice
    30-40-kilogram loads

    20-30-minute conferences
    $10-$20-million-a-year contract
    $40,000-$50,000-per-year joint income
    20-40%-a-year increase

    20-$25-a-month service fees
    a $10-$15-per-month balance
    an $85-$90-a-week deduction
    a $30-$35-million-plus deal

    25-30-, 35-40-, and 45-55-year-old men

    25-30-, 35-40-, and 45-55-year-olds

    Please, no suggested recasts.

    Thank you.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2015
  2. BayView

    BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    10,462
    Likes Received:
    11,689
    I can only suggest recasts. Some of those are awkward as hell.

    If you don't want the suggested changes? I don't know. CMOS themselves have said they don't endorse this kind of usage, so it seems strange to try to apply CMOS standards to it.
     
  3. thirdwind

    thirdwind Member Contest Administrator Reviewer Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    3,339
    Location:
    Boston
    They all look correct to me. The only thing that I'll point out is that you're inconsistent with the usage of dollar signs. For example, you have
    In the first example, you don't have the dollar sign for the first number, though I think it should be there. The same goes for the percent sign in the example right above this one.
     
  4. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2013
    Messages:
    18,385
    Likes Received:
    7,080
    Location:
    Ralph's side of the island.
    I'm confused, it seems simple enough, use hyphens, not en or em dashes when you use a string of hyphenated adjectives.

    Personally, I don't use the hyphen after the number spread. The only time I use a string of hyphenated words is in some adjectival clauses. I've also used single quotes to set an adjectival clause apart.

    He was in his I-love-board-games mode.
    He was in his 'I love board games' mode.
    10–20 mile hike
    hyphen: -
    en dash: –
    em dash: —

    CMOS: Hyphens, en dashes and em dashes

    I've never bothered with en dashes but I do use em dashes for interrupted speech or actions in my fiction.
     
  5. dillseed

    dillseed Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2013
    Messages:
    390
    Likes Received:
    19
    Like this, thirdwind?

    20%-40%-a-year increase

    I typo'd by omitting the dollar sign in the other example.
     
  6. thirdwind

    thirdwind Member Contest Administrator Reviewer Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    7,851
    Likes Received:
    3,339
    Location:
    Boston
    Yes. I think that's right, though I could be wrong.
     
  7. dillseed

    dillseed Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2013
    Messages:
    390
    Likes Received:
    19
    Thank you both.

    Respectfully,

    Dillseed
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice