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Hypen - Ayala

Posted: Aug 07, 2010

I hope there is somebody out there that can help me. Does the phrase

Half a pack a day smoker

Is there hyphenation in this or not. Like Half-a-pack?

Thank you !

hyphen - no1joe

[ In Reply To ..]
It would be half-a-pack-a-day smoker. You would not use the hyphens if the phrase came after, for example, the patient smoked a half a pack a day. Double check BOS which I don't have with me at the moment. I could be wrong, but I believe the first "a" between half and pack should be dropped : )

Hypen - Ayala

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks no1joe. You know I went back to listen to it and it is definitely "HALF A PACK A DAY SMOKER". There are no words before this. So I guess you are saying -- no hyphen- right?

hyphens - no1joe

[ In Reply To ..]
No... there would be hyphens "half-a-pack-a-day smoker." In this case, because it comes before the word "smoker," it's being used as an adjective, hence the hypens. If it came after (the patient smoked a half a pack a day) there would be no hyphens. I was just saying that for future reference. It's almost like, for example, "a 2-year-old boy" versus "the boy was 2 years old."

The first "a" might need to be dropped in "half-a-pack-a-day" (changing it to "half-pack-a-day") according to the BOS, but again, I don't have it available to me currently.

Hypen - Ayala

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the lesson in hyphens. I knew that- I just didn't apply it. Sorry if I appear ignorant but- What is the BOS?

BOS = Book of Style - no1joe

[ In Reply To ..]
It's a book - an expensive book might I add - full of what I think are ridiculous rules that you must adhere to when you work for a company. And you don't appear ignorant! Most MTs are more than happy to help answer your questions : )

BOS - Ayala

[ In Reply To ..]
OMG - I should have figured that one out. I have that book- Anyway, thank you for the help.

I would change it to - half-pack per day

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are allowed such leeway.

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