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If two different prefixes apply to one word, use a suspending hyphen for the unattached prefix and write the other form of the word as solid."

a) True
b) False

User Julez
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The statement regarding the use of suspending hyphens with two different prefixes is false. Prefixes are attached directly to the base word unless specific readability or pronunciation issues dictate otherwise.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement "If two different prefixes apply to one word, use a suspending hyphen for the unattached prefix and write the other form of the word as solid" is false. A suspending hyphen is typically not used when two different prefixes apply to a single word. Instead, each prefix is written attached to the base word without a hyphen, unless the prefix itself ends in a vowel, and the word it's attached to begins with the same vowel, or readability is significantly affected.

For example, words such as 'reentry' and 'antiaircraft' do not use a hyphen. However, if the combination of letters creates confusion or an odd-looking word, a hyphen may be used for clarity, such as 'pre-industrial' instead of 'preindustrial'. In terms of prefix assimilation, such as in the words 'impossible' and 'irreplaceable', the prefix in- changes to im- or ir- respectively, to assimilate with the initial consonant of the base word for easier pronunciation.

User Sanjeev Kumar Jha
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