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Old 09-09-2006, 12:52 AM   #1
karo.ambrose
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hyphens
Hi... I'm new here. So how do i write this:
"She was a fourteen-year old girl"
or
"She was a fourteen year-old girl"
perhaps a dumb question, but thanks in advance for the help
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Old 09-09-2006, 12:58 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by karo.ambrose
Hi... I'm new here. So how do i write this:
"She was a fourteen-year old girl"
or
"She was a fourteen year-old girl"
perhaps a dumb question, but thanks in advance for the help
Not that it's what you asked, but...isn't it somewhat redundant to say 'she' is a 'girl'?

...She was fourteen years old...
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Old 09-09-2006, 01:01 AM   #3
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fourteen-year-old
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Old 09-09-2006, 01:07 AM   #4
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karo.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
okay... sorry. so, if i say, "she was fourteen years old", there would be no hyphens, but if I say "Elaine was a fourteen-year-old girl running for president" there would be all hyphens???
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Old 09-09-2006, 01:09 AM   #5
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Correct.
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Old 09-09-2006, 01:23 AM   #6
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"Fourteen-year-old" is a compound modifier. If it helps, think of it this way: "Fourteen," "year," and "old" all modify girl, but only together. Separately, they don't. She's not a "fourteen girl," she's not a "year girl," and she's not an "old girl." But she is a "fourteen-year-old girl."

Another trick: If you can put "and" between the modifiers and it still makes sense, then there should be no hyphens.
She is a fourteen and year and old girl. Doesn't work.
She is a tall and slim and friendly girl. Works.
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Old 09-09-2006, 01:27 AM   #7
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karo.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentskaro.ambrose is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
muchas thanks!
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