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A nicely-hyphenated blog entry

Truss, Eats, Shoots and Leaves -- Jerz: EL150 (Intro to Literary Study)

"A re-formed rock band is quite different from a reformed one. Likewise, a long-standing friend is different from a long standing one. A cross-section of the public is quite different from a cross section of the public."

Yay for Lynne Truss! In addition to the Oxford comma, the hyphen is also something that I just can't stand when it's absent and I know it should be there. Whenever I proofread things for other people, it seems like they're scared of hyphens. There are things that they just don't get. Don't they understand that a "re-formed rock band" is one that has gotten back together, and "a reformed rock band" is one that has morally redeemed itself? It just makes things so much clearer. A "stainless steel kitchen" would be a kitchen that is made of steel and is stainless. Put a hyphen in there, and the kitchen just has stainless steel in it. It's beautiful. Don't be afraid of hyphens, people. They don't bite. They're so friendly, and they just make everything so nice and specific. I love those ever-lovin' hyphens.

Comments (1)

MacKenzie Harbison:

I myself am not necessarily afraid of the hyphen, I actually like the litte guy, but sometimes I just don't know when to use it because it's not something that I use every day. When I'm not sure if I should use it or not, I usually just leave it out.

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