Are any of the following correct?
It's all too-easy
It's all-too-easy
It's all too easy
Explanation/citations would be greatly appreciated
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2Getting documents was all too easy for Snowden. – anongoodnurse Feb 12 '14 at 06:07
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Is this for the new Star Wars movie? – d'alar'cop Feb 12 '14 at 06:39
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Well, the answer is only all too easy. – Kris Feb 12 '14 at 07:05
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Possible duplicate/ Closely related: https://english.stackexchange.com/a/150173/14666 – Kris Feb 12 '14 at 07:13
2 Answers
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There is no need to hyphenate the phrase unless it is used either as a compound noun or as a compound adjective.
As a compound noun, it is likely to be a nickname, in which case, capitalise the initial letters:
- It's All-Too-Easy (as in names such as John-Paul, or Maria-Luisa)
- It's 'All Too Easy' (as a nickname) and It's All Too Easy (as a non-hyphenated name) would both also be acceptable.
As a compound adjective, it would need a determiner before it, e.g.,
- It's the all-too-easy solution to all our problems. Don't you believe it.
ADDITION:
In the plural, eg 'all-too-easy solutions' no determiner is needed, as Kris commented, below.
Leon Conrad
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Yes, it's an all too easy and not entirely fair game to play. (NYT) – anongoodnurse Feb 12 '14 at 06:15
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Compound adjectives do not necessarily need a determiner before them. All-too-easy solutions are always too easy to work. – Kris Feb 12 '14 at 07:08
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There would be no hyphen involved. I assume you're thinking of the linking of two adjectives, but that's only when they come before a noun. If you want to read more rules about hyphens, read here:
Josh
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