Stylistic changes to a text? - Page 2

corroonb · 08-14-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abecedary

Is there a specific style guide and/or dictionary that you (or the original editor) are following? If yes, then go by those rules. If you are dealing with an older book/document and want to keep the original styling (as you say in your original post), then try to find the oldest copy of the work that you can. Check with your local library system or some local colleges/universities to see what they have available. But otherwise, as was already mentioned, sometimes editors of newer editions will choose to update some of the style decisions to be in line with more modern usage.

I have no style guide.

I think Patricia is correct and that an automatic conversion has removed a lot of dashes in compound words, although not em dashes thankfully.

This is why I like having a PB copy of the book I am proofing.

corroonb · 08-15-2009, 08:43 AM

I have another related question. Is there a difference between an en dash and a hyphen?

A lot of ebooks I have seen have replaced an en dash with a hyphen.

Abecedary · 08-15-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corroonb

I have another related question. Is there a difference between an en dash and a hyphen?

A lot of ebooks I have seen have replace an en dash with a hyphen.

Yes, en dashes and hyphens are different, both typographically and in usage. Hyphens are used to join compound words and to split words at line breaks. En dashes are slightly longer and are used to indicate ranges (5–10 years, August 3–7, etc). And while we're on the subject, em dashes are used to indicate breaks in thought and abrupt parenthetical elements (while commas are used for more flowing ones). Those are the most common usages, but there are others.

corroonb · 08-15-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abecedary

Yes, en dashes and hyphens are different, both typographically and in usage. Hyphens are used to join compound words and to split words at line breaks. En dashes are slightly longer and are used to indicate ranges (5–10 years, August 3–7, etc). And while we're on the subject, em dashes are used to indicate breaks in thought and abrupt parenthetical elements (while commas are used for more flowing ones). Those are the most common usages, but there are others.

That's what I suspected, thanks.

Patricia · 08-15-2009, 10:54 AM

Yes, there's the hyphen. And there's the emdash (as wide as che character m) and the endash (as wide as an n).

See Wikipedia for more information about their use:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dash
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyphen

Jellby · 08-16-2009, 05:58 AM

Another sometimes subtle difference: When a given law, theory, phenomenon, effect, equation, etc. is named after people, an en-dash is used to separate the names of different people (Bose–Einstein condensate), but a hyphen is needed for compound names (Lennard-Jones potential).

HarryT · 08-16-2009, 06:07 AM

I didn't know about that one. Thanks, Jellby!

08-15-2009, 08:43 AM	#17
corroonb Addict Posts: 317 Karma: 1232685 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Aura, Nexus 9	I have another related question. Is there a difference between an en dash and a hyphen? A lot of ebooks I have seen have replaced an en dash with a hyphen. Last edited by corroonb; 08-15-2009 at 08:55 AM.

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08-15-2009, 10:54 AM	#20
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Yes, there's the hyphen. And there's the emdash (as wide as che character m) and the endash (as wide as an n). See Wikipedia for more information about their use: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dash http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyphen

08-16-2009, 05:58 AM	#21
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,549 Karma: 19500001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Another sometimes subtle difference: When a given law, theory, phenomenon, effect, equation, etc. is named after people, an en-dash is used to separate the names of different people (Bose–Einstein condensate), but a hyphen is needed for compound names (Lennard-Jones potential).

08-16-2009, 06:07 AM	#22
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I didn't know about that one. Thanks, Jellby!

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