Ask the Editor

Last Seven Days

Answer

We do not.

Answer

For what is intended to be cohesiveness and ease of use, previous individual entries for suffixes have been combined into one suffixes entry. Same with prefixes. Unfortunately, searching for an individual prefix or suffix doesn't take you immediately to the umbrella entry. I'm asking if there's a way to fix that. In the meantime, from the suffixes entry:

-like Generally no hyphen unless the letter l would be tripled or the main element is a proper noun. Examples: businesslike, catlike, childlike, doglike, lifelike. But: Norwalk-like, shell-like. An exception: flu-like.


Answer

The comma is needed if Emma is his only wife (presumably, she is). If Jordyn is their only daughter, the comma is needed. In those cases, the names are nonessential phrases and thus a comma is necessary.

If they have more than one daughter (let's say, Jordyn and EmmaSue), then the name becomes an essential phrase and no comma is used.

I know this sounds confusing! Details are in the essential phrases, nonessential phrases entry.



Answer

A group ... has proposed. Yes, the subject is group and that dictates the singular verb.


Answer

I stand corrected. We will still fall in line with Merriam-Webster. Even though I don't agree on this one! I'll correct the answer from the other day. Thanks.

Answer

That looks good to me!

Answer

We don't have a stance on that.

Answer

Depends on local or common usage. There's no rule. 

Answer

This isn't spelled out in the entry, but here's what we do in practice: If the region is commonly referred to as, for instance, the Greater Boston area, then capitalize Greater. If it's more a one-off or limited description for that particular region, use the lowercase. And yes, always lowercase area.

Answer

We don't have a position on that. We see it as more an individual stylistic choice. Using the comma provides a mental break and a bit more emphasis on the too. 

Answer

Either is commonly used, but I'd go with all-expenses-paid as a modifier.

Question from Winnebago, Minnesota, on June 27, 2024

Should it be face to face or face-to-face?

Answer

CORRECTED: face-to-face, with hyphens, in all uses. This follows Merriam-Webster's style. 
Or: They met in person.

Answer

I'd use the hyphen.

Answer

Single quotation marks.

Answer

We don't have written guidance. But we agree in principle that the "or not" isn't necessary. 

Answer

Depends on whether those are recognized as, in effect, common nouns for those neighborhoods. Such as Midtown Manhattan. We'd almost certainly lowercase downtown in all uses, unless there's a clear local argument otherwise. The midtown/Midtown descriptor is more variable.

Answer

Question from California, on June 26, 2024

Answer

We have one style; Merriam-Webster has another. Either can be correct. Choose the one you prefer. (We are generally, but not always, in synch with our primary dictionary. That's always been the case.)

Question from California, on June 26, 2024

Answer

We use the style Day 1. Merriam-Webster uses day one. Either is correct; it's a matter of which style you prefer. We don't always align 100% with our primary dictionary. That's always been the case. 

Question from Clinton, New York, on June 26, 2024

Is it $50-million renovation or $50 million renovation?

Answer

No hyphen. Here's the guidance from the millions, billions, trillions entry.


Answer

We don't do that in AP style. Other style guides might call for it in some types of writing. There's no "correct" usage. It's a matter of which style you follow.

Answer

Sorry, but we don't have a style for the periodic table. 

Question from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on June 26, 2024

Is it '20s-style or '20s style (when there's no noun after it)?

Answer

The latter.

Answer

That's fine. 

Answer

It's sub-Saharan, following this unchanged guidance from the prefixes entry: 

Three rules are constant:
  • Use a hyphen if the prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel. Exceptions: cooperate, coordinate, and double-e combinations such as preestablish, preeminent, reenact, reelect.
  • Use a hyphen if the word that follows is capitalized: un-American, for example.
  • Use a hyphen to join doubled prefixes: sub-subparagraph.

And: semisubmersible. Merriam-Webster hyphenates jack-up for the rig and we will follow the dictionary lead on that.


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