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I sometimes use "manner" to use noun-phrases as adverbs, like "in the manner of a vigilant watchdog". If I reverse the order, does the noun phrase then have to be hypenated? Like so: "in a vigilant-watchdog manner"

jimmy_joyce
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  • jimmy joyce, in cases like yours the best is to use two hyphens 'in a vigilant-watchdog-manner', though. – Elberich Schneider Jan 10 '14 at 21:10
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    There comes a time when stylistic considerations are at least as important as acceptable grammar. I'd almost certainly use 'like a vigilant watchdog'. – Edwin Ashworth Jan 10 '14 at 21:27
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    @ElberichSchneider: That is not the normal way to do it according to style books, which would be in a vigilant-watchdog manner, as Jimmy says. Either way, I agree with Edwin that compound adjectives are overused and often ugly, so I wouldn't write that either. Brevity rules! – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica Jan 10 '14 at 21:41
  • Thanks guys! Btw I disagree with the 'duplicate' mark -- the other q discusses compound words, such as "master-at-arms". But such words are always hyphenated. My question addresses noun phrases, which are usually not hyphenated. If the claim is that in my example, "vigilant watchdog" becomes a compound word or phrasal adjective when preceding "manner", that's fine, but doesn't seem to be a duplication, strictly speaking. And yes, I try to avoid this pattern too. I was, um, asking for a friend... – jimmy_joyce Jan 10 '14 at 23:53
  • @regdwigt please see above comment. I should have used @ above, sorry. – jimmy_joyce Jan 13 '14 at 22:17

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