Post AWI3LRRkK9GCGpM99k by Karendipitee@mastodon.social
(DIR) More posts by Karendipitee@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #AWHwo6dW4jH6RoaBwe by grammargirl@zirk.us
2023-06-02T17:58:54Z
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Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, and Collins all hyphenate "long-term" as an adjective, but not "longtime."They are close to each other in my acknowledgements, and it looks weird:"My long-term writers" and a paragraph later "my longtime friend."I need "long-term." I could maybe use a different word for "longtime," but nothing else (e.g, "good," "dear") is quite right. I may make a house style decision here and hyphenate "long-time." What do you think, @edibuddies? #AmEditing #hyphens
(DIR) Post #AWHx0xhebH9EVReFXs by aka_quant_noir@cinematheque.social
2023-06-02T18:01:14Z
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@grammargirl I don't like the phrase to begin with, but I wouldn't give it either a hyphen or absent a space. It's two words, IMHO.
(DIR) Post #AWHxH8LKoCGA8fv5VY by sogerald@masto.ai
2023-06-02T18:04:11Z
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@grammargirl Weird as it looks, leaving "longtime" and "long-term," may be best.Are you open to using "BFFs" in the latter paragraph?
(DIR) Post #AWHxI111XPh1hbq8zA by KPED@urbanists.social
2023-06-02T18:04:19Z
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@grammargirl I'm not bothered by the one being hyphenated and the other closed. I would go with M-W.Alternatively, you could use "long-standing" and "lifelong." hahaha.
(DIR) Post #AWHxIRG9xlFV657bBg by tkinias@historians.social
2023-06-02T18:04:20Z
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@grammargirl I’m not a professional editor, but I agree that “longtime” looks weird. Hyphenate it!
(DIR) Post #AWHxRV5z4R2XbGgPLs by blinkenjim@mastodon.social
2023-06-02T18:06:04Z
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@grammargirl Do it! Hyphenate!
(DIR) Post #AWHxVxG8Ih9W6fYPUO by Artemis201@mstdn.social
2023-06-02T18:06:46Z
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@grammargirl I think it looks fine as-is using the mixed hyphenations, but maybe rephrasing to just avoid the issue all together might be the most correct
(DIR) Post #AWHxawt96exgP9BQhM by grammargirl@zirk.us
2023-06-02T18:07:47Z
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@sogerald Haha, no "BFF" won't work. :)
(DIR) Post #AWHxeFxUf1FMPznIR6 by markstoneman@zirk.us
2023-06-02T18:08:20Z
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@grammargirl I'd simply avoid using them both in such close proximity.
(DIR) Post #AWHxhZKz4CqPODMS0m by deepstateretired@0sint.social
2023-06-02T18:08:56Z
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@grammargirl I have always written it without a hyphen. Overall, it feels like hyphens are more a matter of personal preference than necessity in many cases.
(DIR) Post #AWHxl8HPbmIkd8ODcu by JustTooOdd@lor.sh
2023-06-02T18:09:35Z
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@grammargirl I'd go with long-time. Then again I think hyphens are used too infrequetly.
(DIR) Post #AWHzBme8FW6PJ9Hy4m by SergKoren@writing.exchange
2023-06-02T18:25:36Z
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@grammargirl What is the difference in “term” as it relates to time, and “time”? Is long-term more future-looking and longtime more past-looking? Why not just use one or the other for both?
(DIR) Post #AWI1WCswbSGEO15EI4 by grammargirl@zirk.us
2023-06-02T18:51:44Z
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@SergKoren Yes! It just occurred to me too in the shower that I could use "longtime" for both.I'm comparing writers who have written for me for a decade or more to those who have started more recently but are still significant contributors, and I think "longtime" works just as well as "long-term."
(DIR) Post #AWI25A4v1yQtogLtJI by chelseablue70@mastodon.world
2023-06-02T18:58:01Z
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@grammargirl I do not like the look of the hyphenated long term. We overdo hyphens anyway. It does not make the reading easier or clearer.
(DIR) Post #AWI3LRRkK9GCGpM99k by Karendipitee@mastodon.social
2023-06-02T19:12:07Z
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@grammargirl I am fine with the mixed hyphenation. I might separate them a bit more in the acknowledgments if it bothered me more.
(DIR) Post #AWI3V4G1OZbnFLSiGW by VE2UWY@mastodon.radio
2023-06-02T19:13:53Z
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@grammargirl I like consistency, so I say go with hyphens. The problem with liking consistency is that I am a native speaker of English which is quite likely the least consistent language ever thrown together over ~1000 years (more?).
(DIR) Post #AWI3u1UinxZFuvEnSK by cfrye@pnw.zone
2023-06-02T19:18:25Z
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@grammargirl As a long-time writer and very occasional editor, I say go for the house style decision. Dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive, so I believe you are justified in using a secondary spelling to improve comprehensibility.
(DIR) Post #AWI8ZSxvyKXWo5v0sa by outeast@mastodon.green
2023-06-02T20:10:42Z
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@grammargirl Might be relevant that they're not quite equivalent constructions? You don't say "over the long time" (or "for a long term"). To me, "long-time" looks odd. But I can see other replies arguing for the reverse, so that's not worth the paper it isn't printed on.
(DIR) Post #AWIEWlj4Mge7qa3x6u by scieditor@toot.community
2023-06-02T21:17:25Z
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@grammargirl The classic progression is open to hyphenated to closed, so hyphenating a closed compound would be a regression. Also, English is nothing if not _complexly cocnsistent_. Attempts to force it into a tight box have never won.
(DIR) Post #AWIKdBT0AoVH8wzPPM by WordsByWesInk@mstdn.social
2023-06-02T22:25:52Z
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@grammargirlI'd say, read it again tomorrow. If it still looks off, then hyphenate it. Sometimes cosmetics trumps the dictionary.
(DIR) Post #AWIjceD0K82MqjLcPo by grammargirl@zirk.us
2023-06-03T03:05:56Z
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@michaelgalassi Good point!
(DIR) Post #AWIkdxMyfZBIWHCVO4 by ulidig@mastodon.social
2023-06-03T03:17:22Z
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@grammargirl I think you're overthinking it and both look fine.
(DIR) Post #AWInscnNkHWiusElHs by dean90815dean@episcodon.net
2023-06-03T03:53:38Z
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@grammargirl Trust your instinct. The lexicographers don't own the language.