Hyphenated compounds

[geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA]

 There have been contrasting opinions on whether or not to
 hyphenate a compound word that follows a phrase (here, "X
 was company-owned and -operated"). We're agreed that
 compounds that come before a word or phrase, usually
 adjectives, are hyphenated, but what about those that come
 afterwards?

 The reason for hyphenating is the same as for any other
 hyphenated compound: to link two separate words that should
 function as a single unit. In this sense, the position of
 the compound is irrelevant: consider, for example,
 well-being, feller-buncher (forestry example!) and CD-ROM.
 Over time, such words eventually lose their hyphen and get
 set solid (e.g., snow-person became snowperson) if the
 words are used often enough. I'd use the hyphens for
 clarity, and there are very few cases where I wouldn't.
 Here, the only confusion as a result of omitting the hyphen
 arises from "yes, it's company-owned, but operated by who,
 the company?".

 A more open question is whether this particular form of
 suspensive hyphenation (i.e., not repeating the word that
 comes one or or the other side of the hyphen) is
 permissible. Most style guides accept or even recommend "a
 1- or 2-year-old X", but many prohibit "company-owned and
 -operated". Why? Because it's a less common, thus less
 familiar, form, and it creates a momentary hesitation for
 readers. Other than that, its a matter of personal taste.

 A word about style guides: If you look long enough and hard
 enough, you'll find a style guide that supports almost any
 position. Style guides aren't physics texts: they're
 someone's opinion. Use them as _guides_, not as _final
 authorities_. (FWIW, even editors keep several style guides
 on hand to provide a range of opinions on most issues.)

 --Geoff Hart     @8^{)}     geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
 Disclaimer: Speaking for myself, not FERIC.