Why Hyphens are Important

[gnomi]

Because there are differences among:

-- stinky-fish-eating coworker
-- stinky fish-eating coworker
-- stinky fish eating coworker

If a stinky fish were eating my coworker, I'd be concerned. The other two are just annoyances.

Comments

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Alas, I have no artistic ability of that sort.

But if anyone *had* the talent, I'd say go for it.

[saxikath]

Alas, I don't either.

But I could totally see a book of grammar and usage reminders done as cartoons like that.

[ckd]

There is a kid's book version of Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

Among other things, it illustrates the difference between these two sentences:
Becky walked on, her head a little higher than usual.
Becky walked on her head, a little higher than usual.

[chaos-wrangler.livejournal.com]

The Girls Like Spaghetti is another kids' book by the same author. It focuses on apostrophes:

The girls like spaghetti. (several happy girls eating pasta)
The girl's like spaghetti. (one really tall and thin girl)

[bluepapercup]

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