I remember hyphenating these two words in the early sixties - why did we stop doing this?
2006-07-23 07:23:05 · 13 answers · asked by ian jt 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It doesn't matter which you use. They are both listed in the Oxford English Dictionary and also in Chambers as equals although the hyphenated one is secondary. So, in theory, we haven't actually stopped using them. As it's a matter of choice though, it's obvious that the non-hyphenated ones are preferred as they contain one digit less so are quicker and easier typed or written.
2006-07-23 07:33:41 · answer #1 · answered by quatt47 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The keyboard. The hyphen is up next to the numbers and reaching for it takes time. If you're typing a lot, like stories for a newspaper or magazine, it's much easier to just skip the hyphen since everyone will still know what you mean. Then once the newspapers and magazines started doing it, the rest of culture lost the hyphen as well.
2006-07-23 07:28:15 · answer #2 · answered by Tim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would we keep doing this. The English language is already hard. I think we should stop hyphenating a lot of words and only use it when it's like meaning "to" and things like that.
2006-07-23 07:27:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but I'm an old git too and I can't remember ever using a hyphen in these words. I also don't remember reading either of these words in hyphenated form in childrens books.
I maybe wrong; like I say, I'm an old git.
2006-07-23 08:26:21 · answer #4 · answered by brainyandy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Were you using drugs in the 60's , or were you still on rations . Those words have never been hyphenated.
2006-07-23 07:35:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found this on a website - but forgot to note which one! It just says when we stopped doing it, not why. I presume people just did not do it any more (in the same way that words join the English language anyway)
today
O.E. todæge, to dæge "on (the) day," from to "at, on" (see to) + dæge, dative of dæg "day." Generally written as two words until 16c., after which it usually was written to-day until early 20c. Similar constructions exist in other Gmc. languages (cf. Du. van daag "from-day," Dan., Swed. i dag "in day"). Ger. heute is from O.H.G. hiutu, from P.Gmc. *hiu tagu "on (this) day," with first element from PIE pronomial stem *ki-, represented by L. cis "on this side."
2006-07-23 08:23:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you really hyphenate them? Did that only happen in this lifetime? What about to-morrow?
2006-07-23 07:28:45 · answer #7 · answered by Banwa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because we got lazy and couldnt be botherd puting the hyphen in
2006-07-23 07:25:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yesterday
cos all our troubles where so far away
now we dont have time for a - or a ` or a . or a cuppa.
SO I`M GOING TO MAKE TIME FOR A CUPPA
back in 5 mins
2006-07-23 08:05:10 · answer #9 · answered by itsa o 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
same reeson nobiddy can smell animoor innit.
It drives me to distraction,the systematic rape of the English language.Sack the teachers!
2006-07-23 07:27:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋