Le Old Questions

WaruAthena · 06-30-2012, 05:44 AM

I'm not sure if this have been asked before in Playdota, and I am horrible with the search function so bear with me. I've already tried googling, mind you, but it only confuses me more.

Hyphens. When to hyphenate, when to not?

For example..

He was grief-ridden.

Or

He was grief ridden.

Many other sentences like that.

--------------------------------

Semicolons. When to use them, when to not?

This I have not the slightest clue how to use.

safetybreak · 07-02-2012, 02:43 PM

About semicolons, this http://www.playdota.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468659.

Not sure about hyphens, but I'm sure google can deliver.

WaruAthena · 07-02-2012, 02:47 PM

@ The thread

I am far too stupid to understand the second post D:

For hyphens, google gave me piddle for breakfast and poop for dinner. 'n fact on of the sites I went to was like "sometiemz i has to google teh word mahself to know whether u need to hyphenate or nut lulz"

So I was hoping people could help me here considering how Playdota is made up of mostly levelheaded people.

nattydatty · 07-12-2012, 12:11 PM

Hello, OP. I am here to help.

Firstly, do not confuse hyphens with dashes. They are both mistakenly intertwined by many. Hyphens are used specifically with words, and Em dashes seperate clauses, or set up an appositive. But mostly, the fallacy occurs during reference.

The common rule for using a hyphen, naturally, is to be conscious of context. When deciding whether or not to hyphenate words, such as the ones above, look at the amount of adjectives. It is commonplace for an adjective to modify another.

Example: Dark-blue hair; the hyphen is required to infer that the hair is a certain shade of blue. Opposed to the hair is blue, and is dark.

Respectively, to set aside ambiguity: Low-fitting jeans.

Some words that are constantly hyphenated, may have been formally compressed to compound words. Try combining them together and allow spellcheck to point out error.

You will not find yourself using hyphens very often. However, numbers are specifically used in conjunction with the hyphen when referring to a finite amount or age:

Five-gallon tank.

The seven-year-old.

Twenty-two-years old.

As stated before, writers tend to avoid such usage by rewording:

The tank can hold five gallons.

The young boy, who was only seven, helped his father. (Usually only works for single-digit ages)

I hope this helped.

Lord_Talron · 07-13-2012, 02:55 AM

they can also be used to give a certain feel for your writing. irrc correctly tolkien used them a lot

EuI. · 12-23-2012, 11:31 PM

I don't think you should add french words into Thread Titles.

07-02-2012, 02:43 PM	#2
safetybreak Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Croatia Posts: 726	Re: Le Old Questions About semicolons, this http://www.playdota.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468659. Not sure about hyphens, but I'm sure google can deliver.

07-12-2012, 12:11 PM	#4
nattydatty Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Perth Posts: 106	Re: Le Old Questions Hello, OP. I am here to help. Firstly, do not confuse hyphens with dashes. They are both mistakenly intertwined by many. Hyphens are used specifically with words, and Em dashes seperate clauses, or set up an appositive. But mostly, the fallacy occurs during reference. The common rule for using a hyphen, naturally, is to be conscious of context. When deciding whether or not to hyphenate words, such as the ones above, look at the amount of adjectives. It is commonplace for an adjective to modify another. Example: Dark-blue hair; the hyphen is required to infer that the hair is a certain shade of blue. Opposed to the hair is blue, and is dark. Respectively, to set aside ambiguity: Low-fitting jeans. Some words that are constantly hyphenated, may have been formally compressed to compound words. Try combining them together and allow spellcheck to point out error. You will not find yourself using hyphens very often. However, numbers are specifically used in conjunction with the hyphen when referring to a finite amount or age: Five-gallon tank. The seven-year-old. Twenty-two-years old. As stated before, writers tend to avoid such usage by rewording: The tank can hold five gallons. The young boy, who was only seven, helped his father. (Usually only works for single-digit ages) I hope this helped. __________________ If you read this, you're gay. If you don't believe in random words on a forum dictating your sexual orientation, you're gay. So in theory, I'm gay too. We are all gay, I guess.

Last edited by nattydatty; 07-13-2012 at 11:20 AM.

07-13-2012, 02:55 AM	#5
Lord_Talron Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Complete the Hero 23 Posts: 11,777 Blog Entries: 21	Re: Le Old Questions they can also be used to give a certain feel for your writing. irrc correctly tolkien used them a lot __________________ Sig Suggestion Portfolio This is how we roll

12-23-2012, 11:31 PM	#6
EuI. Banned Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 119	Re: Le Old Questions I don't think you should add french words into Thread Titles.