how to hyphenate eight by ten?

Kerry Ann · May 10, 2013

I need some quick help from the grammar gurus please.

Excerpt:

...the remnants of our life could fit into a single eight by ten foot box.

Should it read eight-by-ten-foot box?

or eight by ten-foot?

or eight-by-ten foot?

Yes, I know I'm combining two or more words to form a compound adjective, just checking for how many hyphens I need.

Help please

Bufty · May 10, 2013

That's a square not a cubic area.

Is there an existing known shape with which readers could identify - a shipping container or a caravan or truck or bus or the like?

Kerry Ann · May 10, 2013

Technically, it' an 8'x8'x12' storage POD (brand of storage/moving trailer).

Would "twelve-foot box" describe just as well? (That it's a PODS trailer is mentioned in a previous sentence.)

Chase · May 10, 2013

Kerry Ann said:
...the remnants of our life could fit into a single eight by ten foot box.

I see Bufty's point, but to answer your question for the as-is line, I think you need to combine the two hypenated terms into:

...the remnants of our life could fit into a single eight-by-ten-foot box.

Since someone will surely suggest a rewrite, here's mine with no hyphens:

...the remnants of our life fit neatly into a moving van box of eight by ten feet.

Bufty · May 10, 2013

What's wrong with what you said? 8'x8'x12' storage container - is as clear as you can get.

King Neptune · May 10, 2013

I like Bufty's answer.

snc84 · May 10, 2013

Bufty said:
That's a square not a cubic area.

Is there an existing known shape with which readers could identify - a shipping container or a caravan or truck or bus or the like?

^Not actually a square. I think you meant rectangle. And yes, by saying box you are alluding to a cubic area.

To answer the question as asked, IMO, I think 'eight-by-ten foot box' would be the most clear, as you are trying to express '8x10' and the 'foot' designation is the separate unit of measure.

Chase · May 10, 2013

snc84 said:
To answer the question as asked, IMO, I think 'eight-by-ten foot box' would be the most clear, as you are trying to express '8x10' and the 'foot' designation is the separate unit of measure.

For logical discussion: if "foot" isn't hyphenated (as in a five-foot tall girl) then grammatically the phrase would have to read, "an eight-by-ten feet box."

For snarky one-liner: obviously many are pushing for a singular they, but is the world ready for a plural foot?

evilrooster · May 10, 2013

The presence or absence of a hyphen doesn't change the fact that "foot" is being used adjectivally. In English, that means it uses its singular form. So no, not "feet", no matter what you do with the hyphen.

(And I'm not "pushing for a singular they"; I'm merely acknowledging that it exists in the language. People say it. People write it. It's part of the language, like who as an objective pronoun.)

Kerosene · May 10, 2013

I would go with Chase's suggestion.

But, I wouldn't use exacts at all. I'd just say storage closet. IMO: Exact terms for no reason is more wear on the reader. Unless, there's a certain reason you're telling us the exact size.

blacbird · May 11, 2013

That's a damn big box. About the size of single-car garage. I recommend WillSauger's suggestion: you don't need exact measurements, just compare to a familiar object. A medium-sized U-Haul trailer would be about right.

caw

Russell Secord · May 14, 2013

Kerry Ann said:
Technically, it' an 8'x8'x12' storage POD (brand of storage/moving trailer).

Would "twelve-foot box" describe just as well? (That it's a PODS trailer is mentioned in a previous sentence.)

If you've already identified the space as a PODS trailer, why elaborate on that? Give the approximate size along with that identification, if you feel you must. Adding it to this sentence reduces the impact.

how to hyphenate eight by ten?

Kerry Ann

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Kerry Ann

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

King Neptune

snc84

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism

evilrooster

Wicked chicken

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen

blacbird

Russell Secord

nearly perfect