Student t-distribution: why the dash
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0
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In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).
Well then, what exactly is the grammatical justification for calling it
t-distribution
as opposed to just
t distribution
?
Or to put it another way, is there a good name for the practice of using a dash in this kind of context?
dashes
asked 4 hours ago
Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen
1757
add a comment |
up vote
0
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favorite
In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).
Well then, what exactly is the grammatical justification for calling it
t-distribution
as opposed to just
t distribution
?
Or to put it another way, is there a good name for the practice of using a dash in this kind of context?
dashes
asked 4 hours ago
Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen
1757
single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
– Mitch
3 hours ago
2
These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
– Barmar
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).
Well then, what exactly is the grammatical justification for calling it
t-distribution
as opposed to just
t distribution
?
Or to put it another way, is there a good name for the practice of using a dash in this kind of context?
dashes
asked 4 hours ago
Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen
1757
In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).
Well then, what exactly is the grammatical justification for calling it
t-distribution
as opposed to just
t distribution
?
Or to put it another way, is there a good name for the practice of using a dash in this kind of context?
dashes
dashes
asked 4 hours ago
Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen
1757
asked 4 hours ago
Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen
1757
edited 2 hours ago
asked 4 hours ago
Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen
1757
asked 4 hours ago
Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen
1757
asked 4 hours ago
Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen
1757
1757
single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
– Mitch
3 hours ago
2
These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
– Barmar
3 hours ago
add a comment |
single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
– Mitch
3 hours ago
2
These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
– Barmar
3 hours ago
single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
– Mitch
3 hours ago
single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
– Mitch
3 hours ago
2
2
These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
– Barmar
3 hours ago
These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
– Barmar
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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A hyphen — not a dash — commonly joins an initial single letter/digit to form a compound word. Left to its own devices, general usage will capitalize:
A-side, B-side, T-shirt, A-shirt, O-level, X-ray
Otherwise, various commercial or scientific fields set their own conventions. There is no particular reason why, for instance, it's t-distribution but T-cell beyond the tendency in mathematics not to capitalize letters except in special circumstances. In other words, it’s E = mc2 by community agreement and convention.
Many e-words such as e-commerce, e-learning, and especially e-mail are dropping their hyphens. I've also seen B movie both ways.
answered 33 mins ago
KarlG
18.8k52753
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
A hyphen — not a dash — commonly joins an initial single letter/digit to form a compound word. Left to its own devices, general usage will capitalize:
A-side, B-side, T-shirt, A-shirt, O-level, X-ray
Otherwise, various commercial or scientific fields set their own conventions. There is no particular reason why, for instance, it's t-distribution but T-cell beyond the tendency in mathematics not to capitalize letters except in special circumstances. In other words, it’s E = mc2 by community agreement and convention.
Many e-words such as e-commerce, e-learning, and especially e-mail are dropping their hyphens. I've also seen B movie both ways.
answered 33 mins ago
KarlG
18.8k52753
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
A hyphen — not a dash — commonly joins an initial single letter/digit to form a compound word. Left to its own devices, general usage will capitalize:
A-side, B-side, T-shirt, A-shirt, O-level, X-ray
Otherwise, various commercial or scientific fields set their own conventions. There is no particular reason why, for instance, it's t-distribution but T-cell beyond the tendency in mathematics not to capitalize letters except in special circumstances. In other words, it’s E = mc2 by community agreement and convention.
Many e-words such as e-commerce, e-learning, and especially e-mail are dropping their hyphens. I've also seen B movie both ways.
answered 33 mins ago
KarlG
18.8k52753
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
A hyphen — not a dash — commonly joins an initial single letter/digit to form a compound word. Left to its own devices, general usage will capitalize:
A-side, B-side, T-shirt, A-shirt, O-level, X-ray
Otherwise, various commercial or scientific fields set their own conventions. There is no particular reason why, for instance, it's t-distribution but T-cell beyond the tendency in mathematics not to capitalize letters except in special circumstances. In other words, it’s E = mc2 by community agreement and convention.
Many e-words such as e-commerce, e-learning, and especially e-mail are dropping their hyphens. I've also seen B movie both ways.
answered 33 mins ago
KarlG
18.8k52753
A hyphen — not a dash — commonly joins an initial single letter/digit to form a compound word. Left to its own devices, general usage will capitalize:
A-side, B-side, T-shirt, A-shirt, O-level, X-ray
Otherwise, various commercial or scientific fields set their own conventions. There is no particular reason why, for instance, it's t-distribution but T-cell beyond the tendency in mathematics not to capitalize letters except in special circumstances. In other words, it’s E = mc2 by community agreement and convention.
Many e-words such as e-commerce, e-learning, and especially e-mail are dropping their hyphens. I've also seen B movie both ways.
answered 33 mins ago
KarlG
18.8k52753
answered 33 mins ago
KarlG
18.8k52753
answered 33 mins ago
KarlG
18.8k52753
answered 33 mins ago
KarlG
18.8k52753
18.8k52753
add a comment |
add a comment |
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single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
– Mitch
3 hours ago
2
These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
– Barmar
3 hours ago