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Where to put a hyphen when there's an abbreviation in the middle?

English Language & Usage Asked by A guest on March 26, 2021

Ethiopia wants African Union (AU) mediated negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Using AP style. You want a hyphen in front of mediated. What is the correct way?

One Answer

Acronyms should be defined on first use so as to avoid misunderstanding and to promote progressive rather than retrogressive understanding. This is usually done parenthetically as in your example. Once the acronym has been placed in its parenthetical prison it cannot be meaningfully hyphenated because the hyphen might then be interpreted as part of the acronym. Any intended connective function to the following is destroyed by the obstacle of the last parenthesis.

Equally, to place the connective hyphen with the last word of the phrase that defines the acronym fails to make the connection with the whole phrase. Also, the intended connection is destroyed by the presence of the intervening parenthetical acronym.

You are left with two possibilities as mentioned in comments. Reconstruct the sentence or go for postponed acronym definition. The latter is not desirable, as outlined above. Reconstruction is likely to be your best solution.

Answered by Anton on March 26, 2021

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