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I write an article which is talking about conditional probabilities. Each probability is conditioned on something (some condition). Then, in the following sentence, I am talking about changing this underlying condition:

We introduce a biologically more meaningful parametrization of residency probability, and then re-condition this probability to newly captured individuals.

In this context, should I use "re-condition" or "recondition"? My instinct was to use re-condition, because it emphasizes the connection with "condition" as the probabilistic conditioning... rather than evoking the other unrelated meanings, which the word "recondition" has.

Tomas
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  • I wouldn't use either. The word "recondition" has the established meaning *overhaul or repair. Trying to shoe-horn it into meaning alter the conditions / constraints of [some test, or whatever]* is asking too much. That's even allowing for the fact that introducing a non-standard hyphen might alert the reader that you intend a "special" sense (you could also use "scare quotes" for the same purpose). But I suggest you just say "change the conditions" or similar. – FumbleFingers Dec 06 '23 at 14:26
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    Does this answer your question? Hyphens in verb construction containing prefix such as "re" Stoney B includes << Usually you can just slap re on the front of a word, without a hyphen, and you will be understood. [BUT] There are circumstances in which the hyphen is desirable:

    ... (2) If you want to draw attention to the fact that you are using a “re” word in a different sense than that which would be expected, particularly if you are reverting to the base sense. [+ example] >>

     – Edwin Ashworth Dec 06 '23 at 16:00

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