phrases - Is it correct to hyphenate with compound premodifiers? If so, where is the hyphen placed?


For example, "file system" and "related". Is it "file system-related"? It will appear as if it is a compound of "file" and "system-related", won't it?



Answer



This is a very good question and is one that troubled me for a long time.


Here is what the Fowler brothers say in their Kings English:



TEXT 1: Within the last ten days two Anglo-South Americans have been in my office arranging for passages to New Zealand.—Times.


SUGGESTION 1: Anglo-South-Americans is the best that can be done. What is really wanted is Anglo-SouthAmericans, to show that South goes more closely with America. But it is too hopelessly contrary to usage at present.


TEXT 2: The proceeds of the recent London-New York loan.—Times.


SUGGESTION 2: London and New-York loan.


TEXT 3: A good, generous, King Mark-like sort of man.—Times.


SUGGESTION 3: King-Mark-like, in default of KingMark-like. But the addition of -like to compound names should be avoided.


TEXT 4: The Fugitive Slave-law in America before the rebellion.—H. Sidgwick.


SUGGESTION 4: Fugitive-Slave law



In answer to your question, based on Fowler's advice (which I find practical and logical), I would write filesystem-related or file-system-related, e.g., 'Please remember that this is a filesystem-related job.'


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