Hyphen or Not?

MatchmakerJane · Oct 6, 2008

I'm uncertain if this is stylistic or if there is a grammatical ruling

Is it day to day

Or day-to-day

Thanks for your help!

Ms Hollands · Oct 6, 2008

If used as an adjective, it's day-to-day (as in, "They needed her on a day-to-day basis").

If used as a phrase, it's day to day (as in, "They needed her from day to day").

I keep thinking of 'daily' but I guess that has a slightly different meaning to what you're after.

FennelGiraffe · Oct 6, 2008

April Hollands said:
If used as an adjective, it's day-to-day (as in, "They needed her on a day-to-day basis").

If used as a phrase, it's day to day (as in, "They needed her from day to day").

Yes.

Carmy · Oct 6, 2008

Way to go, April. You're right.

Maryn · Oct 6, 2008

April's totally correct. It all depends on whether you're making a temporary compound adjective (on a day-to-day basis is one) or not (needed her from day to day is not), and whether the compound adjective comes before the noun or not, or is needed for clarity.

Maryn, not able to cobble together a good example of after the noun

MatchmakerJane · Oct 7, 2008

Thank you to everyone! I bow before the grammar gods

Hyphen or Not?

MatchmakerJane

Ms Hollands

Cow lover

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

Carmy

Maryn

Baaa!

MatchmakerJane