RE: open-source vs. open source

["Michael West" <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- com>]

> One of the purposes of hyphenating compounds is to avoid ambiguity, as
> in "open door policy" or "fast sailing ship". Maybe it's just me, but
> I don't see potential ambiguity in the phrases above involving "open
> source".

Whether a hyphen is required in "open source software" is not the question I
was addressing, nor was it the OP's question as I understood the post.

My point is about what it signifies once it is placed within the compound.

Some would prefer a hyphen in "open-source" on the grounds of consistency
and on the grounds that it should not be left up to readers to find or not
find ambiguity in the phrase. A careful writer, these people would say, does
not leave the door open to misunderstanding regardless of its likelihood.
(Apropos of the topic, you might call this a closed-door policy.)

Others would agree with you that in this instance it is not required. I have
no strong preference in the matter. But I do feel strongly that a writer
ought to understand what a hyphen is and does, and this is where I saw the
confusion.

--
Mike

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing 
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor,  Microsoft Word or 
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. 
http://www.doctohelp.com

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info. 

Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat