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I have always explained the hyphen v no-hyphen question when it comes to
joining two words to form a new one (as in the case with "online") as
follows:
When a young, created word first enters the language, it is hyphenated.
When it grows old (and up), it eventually loses its hyphen. ;-)
-----Original Message-----
From: Joy Owen [SMTP:jowen2 -at- CSC -dot- COM]
<mailto:[SMTP:jowen2 -at- CSC -dot- COM]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 9:07 AM
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
<mailto:TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>
Subject: Hyphenation
Dear List:
I saw a recent post about on-line vs. online. I've always used
online, but
recently have been called on it (it's presented in Websters as
on-line).
It makes me question whether the way I've been spelling these types
of
words correctly. May I share a few of the words in question and ask
your
opinions? If anyone knows of a document that lists the correct
spelling
method, I'd like to see it.
on-line vs online and off-line vs offline
sub-system vs subsystem
pull-down menu vs pulldown menu
Thanks,
Joy Owen
Technical Writer
Computer Sciences Corporation
