Prefixes in a series--help!

June 27, 2012 9:39 AM

Grammar question: How to treat hyphenated prefixes when used in a series.

I'm editing a sentence (AP style) that refers to a series of things with prefixes, and the prefixes themselves are arranged serially. That is, it reads, "land-, sea- and air-based thingamajigs." (Not the actual sentence since the document is confidential, but you get the idea.) Is this the correct way to arrange this series?

posted by Cash4Lead to writing & language (4 answers total)

That's how I have always done it. (Of course, I use the Oxford comma, but that's a different argument altogether.)
posted by restless_nomad at 9:40 AM on June 27, 2012 [4 favorites]

Yup!
posted by divisjm at 9:41 AM on June 27, 2012

I'm an Oxford man myself, but I have to follow a particular style in this case. Thanks!
posted by Cash4Lead at 9:42 AM on June 27, 2012 [1 favorite]

That is certainly how I'd do it.

As a Brit, I'd just like to say that the Oxford comma is evil and must die. Except when context requires it, naturally. :-)
posted by Decani at 12:32 PM on June 28, 2012