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Does one hyphenate height when given in feet and inches?

English Language & Usage Asked on July 21, 2021

In a work of fiction I’m writing, I’m using the colloquial phrase five-one to refer to someone’s height. Should that be hyphenated as five-one, or should it just be written woth a space separating the two parts, so as five one?

One Answer

The Chicago Manual of Style says

Hyphenated before a noun, open otherwise: a five-foot-ten quarterback, but five feet ten [inches tall]

In a different section, CMoS gives this example:

She is five feet nine (or, more colloquially, five foot nine or five nine).

So, following these rules in a colloquial vein:

She was a five-two ball of fire.

Answered by Gnawme on July 21, 2021

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