to-night and to-morrow

[bunnyb.gal]

I hope I've put this into the correct forum, Bartenders.

I've seen both these words frequently hyphenated in older books and magazines, and would like to know if anyone knows when this form of these words fell into disuse. Thanks!

 

[Benzadmiral]

I can recall seeing those constructions in 1930s British novels, but not in 1930s American ones. Like "co-ordinate," I think, these two vanished before WWII.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The hyphenated form was still dominant into the 1910s, but was falling out of favor -- this was the era of "Simplified Spelling," and eliminating extra hyphens was right in line with that philosophy. It remained common in the works of older writers, and in more linguistically-conservative publications for a while longer, but by the thirties it was becoming more a pseudo-classy affectation than something in common use.

 

[Shangas]

I also remember "To-day" as well. I suspect, as Lizzie says, that it was an attempt to make things less complicated.

 

[bunnyb.gal]

Cheers, Benzadmiral and LizzieMaine. I've always liked the look of these words hyphenated.

 

[listenone]

ahaa, to-rrent?

 

[MikePotts]

I still hyphenate co-ordinate, co-operation etc.. & week-end.

MP

 

[bunnyb.gal]

Can anyone else think of some other once-upon-a-time hyphenated words?