I like to use them when words create a unit of thought. Like line-of-sighr, and such. It really helps readability. It prevents people from having to think too hard about certain sentences when it’s ambiguous which words belong to what part of the sentence. Especially when the expression contains function words like “of”.
However, I’m a fan of just making multiple words into compound words, like bumblebee. That doesn’t work well with something like lineofsight, though.
As a side note, I wish we would being back the diaeresis in favor of hyphens in words like co-op. It used to be coöp, and that so much more fun. Or words like reëlect. Even when it’s not abbreviated, the diaeresis makes it more obvious to readers how coöperative is pronounced. Or any other time where two vowels in a row are pronounced separately.
Also, by your coöperative pronunciation example, people would be mispronouncing reëlect.
I’m not sure what you mean.
It’s pronounced co-operative and re-elect. Coöp needs it to not sound lime “coop” as in chicken coop. Reëlect needs it to not sound like “reel” as in fishing reel.
I like to use them when words create a unit of thought. Like line-of-sighr, and such. It really helps readability. It prevents people from having to think too hard about certain sentences when it’s ambiguous which words belong to what part of the sentence. Especially when the expression contains function words like “of”.
However, I’m a fan of just making multiple words into compound words, like bumblebee. That doesn’t work well with something like lineofsight, though.
As a side note, I wish we would being back the diaeresis in favor of hyphens in words like co-op. It used to be coöp, and that so much more fun. Or words like reëlect. Even when it’s not abbreviated, the diaeresis makes it more obvious to readers how coöperative is pronounced. Or any other time where two vowels in a row are pronounced separately.
I think you would be more convincing if you spelled “line of sight” correctly
Good catch. I fixed it.
Would the dieresis be placed on top of the s in lineöfsight? Or would it be for vowels only?
Also, by your coöperative pronunciation example, people would be mispronouncing reëlect.
I’m not sure what you mean.
It’s pronounced co-operative and re-elect. Coöp needs it to not sound lime “coop” as in chicken coop. Reëlect needs it to not sound like “reel” as in fishing reel.