to hypen or not to hyphen... 1

[herkiefan]

that is the debate.

Which is correct?

The new $90-million casino will be within our 60-mile radius.

or

The new $90 million casino will be within our 60-mile radius.

or

The new $90 million casino will be within our 60 mile radius.

I'm fairly certain that "60-mile" is correct, but I'm not sure about "$90-million"

“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.”-Albert Einstein

 

[CajunCenturion]

Neither hyphen is necessary.

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[Welshbird]

I concur.

Fee

"The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea." Isak Dinesen

 

[SantaMufasa]

I generally agree with CajunCenturion on topics linquistic. In this case I shall offer these additional points from Oxford Dictionary's On-line resource:

Hyphenation in English is highly variable, and in many contexts, it really doesn't matter...The places where it does matter are summarized in the Oxford Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage (2004), the most important being:[ul][li]to make clear the unifying of the sense in compound expressions such as punch-drunk, cost-benefit analysis, or weight-carrying, or compounds in attributive use (that is, in front of the noun), as in an up-to-date list or the well-known performer;[/li][li]to join a prefix to a proper name (e.g. anti-Darwinian);[/li][li]to avoid misunderstanding by distinguishing phrases such as twenty-odd people and twenty odd people, or a third-world conflict and a third world conflict;[/li][li]to clarify the use of a prefix, as in recovering from an illness and re-covering an umbrella;[/li][li]to clarify compounds with similar adjacent sounds, such as sword-dance, co-opt, tool-like.[/li][li]to represent the use of a common element in a list of compounds, such as four-, six-, and eight-legged animals.[/li][li]in dividing a word across a line-break.[/li][/ul]Guidance on word division is given in reference books such as the Oxford Colour Spelling Dictionary (1996).

My rule of thumb follows the guideline that if multiple words combine together to form a single adjective that precedes the noun that the compound-word adjective modifies, then hyphenate between the words.



Since each of "$90 million" and "60 mile" combine to form a single adjective prior to the noun that each modifies, then I would hyphenate.


Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm or risk. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”

 

[kjv1611]

Or perhaps:

Hyphenate when properly hydrated

and contrary:

Do not hyphenate when not properly hydrated.



--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> that if multiple words combine together to form a single adjective
That's known as a "compound adjective" and generally, compound adjectives should be hyphenated to avoid confusion or eliminate ambiguity. However, if there is no confusion or possible ambiguity, the hyphen is not necessary. Personally, I see nothing confusing or possibly ambiguous about "$90 million" or "60 mile"; therefore, I'll stick with neither hyphen is necessary.

That being said, even though neither hyphen is necessary, including them is not necessarily wrong. But, be consistent: either hyphenate both of them or neither of them.


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Good Luck
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[Welshbird]

I'd certainly say that appears more correct to me with neither hyphen in place.

Fee

"The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea." Isak Dinesen

 

[Grenage]

I only ever use them to remove ambiguity, so I wouldn't use either in the example.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[SantaMufasa]

As I just told John (Cajun) over the phone a few minutes ago (during his very kind call to check up on my health), "I'll just choose to slink off and hyphenate in private." <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm or risk. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”