Search
Picky, picky, picky
Posted by The Critic on December 31, 2001
In Reply to: Picky, picky, picky posted by R. Berg on December 28, 2001
: : : : : : : can someone explain me please what is it subconcept?
: : : : : : : I took it from the sentece: Although the four conservation principles initially appear simple, they contain subconcepts.....
: : : : : : If you take the view that the word should be 'sub-concepts' then all becomes clear. This is an example of the sloppy use of the English language leading to unnecessary, and unintended, confusion.
: : : : : : The subject title that you gave to your posting - 'word that I can't finf in the dictionary' - is also sloppy usage of the language - capitalizing 'i' and changing the spelling of 'finf' to 'find' adds considerable clarity to your question.
: : : : : I also notice that another word you use - 'sentece' - does not appear in the dictionary.
: : : : And a merry Christmas to you.
: : : Make that: Merry Christmas.
: : And further more, the word was "subconcept" at all the Web sites I visited.
: Make that "furthermore." Now, about "sub-": The general rule for hyphenation after a prefix is don't. "Sub" is a complete word when it's slang for submarine. It's not a word when it joins with "concept" to form a compound: it's a prefix. So "subconcept" is correct.
: Exceptions: Hyphenate to avoid a double vowel, as in "anti-intellectual" (but some exceptions to this exception are accepted, as "preeminent" and "cooperate"). Hyphenate if the second element is capitalized, as in "pre-Socratic."
Just a few examples from an online dictionary - can't
all be wrong.
1. sub-zero
2. sub-underwrite
3. sub-standard
4.
sub-Saharan
5. sub rosa
6. sub-post office
7. sub-postmistress
8.
sub-postmaster
9. sub-plot
10. sub-orbital
11. sub-nuclear
12.
sub-machine gun
13. Sub-Lt.
14. sub-lessor
15. sub-lessee
16.
sub-clause
17. sub-breed
18. Sub-Boreal
19. sub-basement
20. Sub-Atlantic
