Q. I am editing a collection of poems. My poet is inclined to use ellipses and em dashes extensively and incorrectly. I argued
that this will detract from the manuscript and be distracting for readers. She argued that it’s a style
thing and I shouldn’t change it. Who is right? Does the poet get complete license?
A. Poets do tend to resist editing—they’re so sure that everything they do is inspired
by genius. Fortunately, readers tend to buy into this. Your role is just to query and then let it go.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. For Chicago style, is there a mandate on whether a paper clip or staple should be used?
A. In manuscript preparation, paper clips work well; binder clips and rubber bands are ideal. Such WMDs as staples should never
be used. Never. If one lands on your desk, it should be dismantled immediately. [SAFETY ALERT: Proceed with caution. May
result in torn documents and/or personal injury unless performed by a professional trained in the use of the proper device
(and probably even then).]
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Dear CMOS: My author uses 9/11 as a shorthand to refer to the September 11 attacks. When this is being used in the phrase “post-9/11
world,” wouldn’t an en dash be more appropriate than a hyphen because post has to bridge 9/11, which is shorthand for two words?
A. The purpose of an en dash in connecting a prefix and an open compound is to prevent the prefix from appearing to go with
only the first word of the compound: post-heart surgery diet is less clear than post–heart surgery diet (or post-heart-surgery diet). Because 9/11 is not an open compound, the en dash isn’t necessary for reading comprehension.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Hello, I've tried to grasp the rule on hyphenating a couple of words I'm confronted with; could you please confirm I'm right
in my reasoning: nontoxic (“non-toxic” would look better); nonsmokers (“non-smokers”
would look better); noneicosanoid functions (“non-eicosanoid” would look better;
nonphosphorylated form (“non-phosphorylated” would look better).
A. Clearly, you like the looks of the hyphen, so I'd say go for it, although Chicago style is to close up the prefix in all
those cases.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I’m seeing this particular use of hyphens: low-to-moderate income families. I don’t
think it’s correct, but it’s becoming so common that I’m
beginning to wonder if I missed something.
A. Chicago style renders this phrase“low- to moderate-income families,” and others
hyphenate it as “low-to-moderate-income families,” but this level of hyphen usage
is subtle enough that it’s not surprising that you don’t find it consistently
applied.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I was not able to find this in CMOS anywhere: how do you hyphenate a word that has both a prefix and a suffix? For example, should “seminationwide”
have any hyphens?
A. In Chicago style, it would not have hyphens. I should point out, however, that such a word might invite further editorial
scrutiny.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Should “64 Slice Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography Program” be hyphenated
“64-Slice”?
Q. Obviously, two adjectives separated by “and” need not be hyphenated, as in “Brackett Omensetter was a wide and happy man.” But how about suspended compound nouns, for example, “city- and state government” or a musician’s “recording- and practice space”? Need the first modifier have a suspended hyphen? I vote hyphen, myself, but I’ve been called to account and could find neither backup nor smackdown in the Chicago Manual.
A. Okay, here’s the smackdown from CMOS: You’re overdoing it. No hyphens. Even if you were to use phrases like those to modify yet another noun, you might well get away without hyphens. You simply have to consider whether the meaning of each phrase would be clear without them: city and state government contracts; recording- and practice-space expenses.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Please help. Does “blue black berries” require a hyphen? What about “deep violet blue color”? We’ve had to look beyond CMOS for guidance because the issue of compound color modifiers isn’t thoroughly covered, although as CMOS is our primary reference, we would happily defer to you. Many of our publications include compound color modifiers, and it’s become a bit tense around here as some insert hyphens and others remove them.
A. You’re right—so CMOS clarified this issue, starting with the sixteenth edition. Simply hyphenate compound color modifiers before a noun but not after. See the table at CMOS 7.89, section 1, under “colors.”
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. My question relates to commonly used Latin terms. Does one hyphenate if the phrase is used as a compound modifier? Examples:
“The board has four ex officio members.” “Ad hoc committee
members do not participate in executive sessions.”
A. Latin terms are not usually hyphenated when used as modifiers, perhaps because they used to be (and often still are) set
in italics. In any case, the eye groups the Latin terms naturally enough without the aid.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]