More actions
| Line 787: | Line 787: | ||
* {{xt|wavelengths in the range 28 mm – 17 m.}} | * {{xt|wavelengths in the range 28 mm – 17 m.}} | ||
==== In compounds when the connection might otherwise be expressed with ''to'', ''versus'', ''and'', or ''between'' ==== | |||
Here the relationship is thought of as parallel, symmetric, equal, oppositional, or at least involving {{em|separate or independent elements}}. The components may be nouns, adjectives, verbs, or any other independent part of speech. Often if the components are reversed there would be little change of meaning. | Here the relationship is thought of as parallel, symmetric, equal, oppositional, or at least involving {{em|separate or independent elements}}. The components may be nouns, adjectives, verbs, or any other independent part of speech. Often if the components are reversed there would be little change of meaning. | ||
| Line 796: | Line 796: | ||
* {{xt|red–green colorblind}}; red and green are separate independent colors, not mixed | * {{xt|red–green colorblind}}; red and green are separate independent colors, not mixed | ||
* Wrong: {{!xt|blue–green algae}}; a blended, intermediate color, so use a hyphen: {{xt|blue-green algae}} | * Wrong: {{!xt|blue–green algae}}; a blended, intermediate color, so use a hyphen: {{xt|blue-green algae}} | ||
* {{xt|a 51–30 win}}; {{xt|a 22–17 majority vote}}; but prefer spelling out when using words instead of numerals: {{xt|a six-to-two majority decision}}, not the awkward {{!xt|a six–two majority decision}}; avoid confusingly reversed order: {{!xt|a 17–22 majority vote}} | * {{xt|a 51–30 win}}; {{xt|a 22–17 majority vote}}; but prefer spelling out when using words instead of numerals: {{xt|a six-to-two majority decision}}, not the awkward {{!xt|a six–two majority decision}}; avoid confusingly reversed order: {{!xt|a 17–22 majority vote}}<ref>It is not logically possible to have a "{{!xt|12–35 victory}}", except in a game where a lower score is better. Otherwise, use a construction like {{xt|Clovis beat Portales, 35–12}}, or {{xt|Jameson lost the election, 2345 votes to 6789, to Garcia}}, with parties, result, and number order in logical agreement.</ref> | ||
* {{xt|a 50–50 joint venture}}; {{xt|a 60–40 split}}; avoid using a slash here, which indicates division | * {{xt|a 50–50 joint venture}}; {{xt|a 60–40 split}}; avoid using a slash here, which indicates division | ||
* {{xt|the Uganda–Tanzania War}}; {{xt|the Roman–Syrian War}}; {{xt|the east–west runway}}; {{xt|the Lincoln–Douglas debates}}; {{xt|a carbon–carbon bond}} | * {{xt|the Uganda–Tanzania War}}; {{xt|the Roman–Syrian War}}; {{xt|the east–west runway}}; {{xt|the Lincoln–Douglas debates}}; {{xt|a carbon–carbon bond}} | ||
| Line 803: | Line 803: | ||
* {{xt|the ballerina's rapid walk–dance transitions}}; {{xt|a male–female height ratio of 1.14}} | * {{xt|the ballerina's rapid walk–dance transitions}}; {{xt|a male–female height ratio of 1.14}} | ||
An en dash between nations; for people and things identifying with multiple nationalities, use a hyphen when applied as an adjective or a space as a noun. | |||
* {{xt|Japanese–American trade}}; but {{xt|a family of Japanese-American traders}} or {{xt|a family of Japanese Americans}} | * {{xt|Japanese–American trade}}; but {{xt|a family of Japanese-American traders}} or {{xt|a family of Japanese Americans}} | ||
| Line 810: | Line 810: | ||
* Wrong: {{!xt|Franco–British rivalry}}; "Franco" is a {{em|combining form}}, not independent, so use a hyphen: {{xt|Franco-British rivalry}} | * Wrong: {{!xt|Franco–British rivalry}}; "Franco" is a {{em|combining form}}, not independent, so use a hyphen: {{xt|Franco-British rivalry}} | ||
A slash or some other alternative may occasionally be better to express a ratio, especially in technical contexts | A slash or some other alternative may occasionally be better to express a ratio, especially in technical contexts ''(see {{section link||Slashes}}, below)''. | ||
* {{xt|the protein–fat ratio}}; {{xt|the protein/fat ratio}}; {{xt|the protein-to-fat ratio}} | * {{xt|the protein–fat ratio}}; {{xt|the protein/fat ratio}}; {{xt|the protein-to-fat ratio}} | ||
* Colons are often used for strictly numeric ratios, to avoid confusion with subtraction and division: {{xt|a 3:1 ratio}}; {{xt|a three-to-one ratio}} | * Colons are often used for strictly numeric ratios, to avoid confusion with subtraction and division: {{xt|a 3:1 ratio}}; {{xt|a three-to-one ratio}} ''(see {{section link|UniWiki:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers|Ratios}})''. | ||
Use an en dash for the names of two or more entities in an attributive compound. | Use an en dash for the names of two or more entities in an attributive compound. | ||