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Re: Comma, Comma, Comma (Should we or Shouldn't we) -Reply
Subject:Re: Comma, Comma, Comma (Should we or Shouldn't we) -Reply From:Diane Williams <DWILLIAM -at- WALCOFF -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 8 May 1995 15:23:26 -0500
>> BUT ... shouldn't computer literate be computer-literate?<<
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>No. As used, the term "computer literate" is not a compound modifier
and is not hyphenated.<
It isn't a compound modifier, however as a noun compound it *could" be
hyphenated to provide clarity if it were deemed necessary. Since
"iterate" is modifying "computer" only and certainly not "knowledgeable,"
which is an adjective, the hyphen, then, although not improper, is not
necessary or required if it were a compound modifier preceding another
noun. "He is a computer-literate writer."
