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Hyphens

Blackwatch — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:16:21 -0800

What are great, memorable examples of where a hyphen can completely change the meaning of a phrase or sentence? "I'm looking for a little used car" has a different meaning to "I'm looking for a little-used car".

Can anyone supply more memorable or hard-hitting phrases to demonstrate the importance of using hyphens correctly?

Funny and or rude examples are positively encouraged, and I'd particularly appreciate examples where a misplaced or omitted hyphen might land you with a defamation suit!

Thanks a lot.

ZIP+4: en-dash or hyphen?

stopgap — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 09:57:09 -0800

ZIP+4: Should I use an en-dash or a hyphen wth a ZIP Code that includes all 9 digits?

Joseph Smith-Johnson-Williams-Jones

JZig — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:00:29 -0800

What happens when two people with hyphenated last-names marry? So, a coworker of mine with a hyphenated last name is engaged to a woman with a hyphenated last name. I asked him what they were going to do about last names, and he wasn't sure. So, out of curiosity, what DOES happen? Do you pick one hyphenated name? Somehow combine two halves of the hyphenated names (at which point you have to either prefer your mom or your dad)? Make a whole new name from the characteristics of the 2 seed names? (I like this one, but I hear it might be more of a pain to get done legally)