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nonempty or non-empty?

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Margaret Reid-Miller

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Nov 6, 1997, 3:00:00 AM11/6/97

In article <63n1k4$cr6$1...@rl0001.unimaas.nl> jer...@orthos.math.rulimburg.nl (Jeroen Rutten) writes:

> What is the correct spelling: a nonempty set, or a non-empty set?
> Is the a (general) rule saying when to use a dash?
>
> --
> Jeroen Rutten
> Maastricht University, Department of Mathematics
> P.O. Box 616
> 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
> e-mail: jer...@orthos.math.unimaas.nl

According to Lyn Dupre, who wrote "Bugs in Writing", 1995

It is no longer correct to hyphenate words beginning with non.
There is a general trend over time in English to close up with
hyphen words that were formerly two words, then to close completely
words that were formerly hyphenated (baby sitter to baby-sitter to
babysitter; bed room to bed-room to bedroom; play shcool to
play-school to playschool). Thus, although hyphenating nonwords
was acceptable in the past, it is now outdated.

She gives the following principle:
"Do not hyphenate nonwords unless the second term consists of
multiple words or begins with a capital letter."

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