Talk:Long-distance trail

Scope

I would like some ideas on what qualifies as a LONG Distance Trail. I am uncomfortable with the 50 km/ 31 Mi mark. Where did this come from?

I agree. What I consider long-distance trails are hundreds or thousands of miles/km long and are epic adventures to hike, not weekend trips. Rmhermen 21:18, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

This article seems very UK or European focused. There are certainly some longer trails around the world which aren't mentioned, esp. in the US or Canada.

some off the best walks i've ever been on are along the east coast of England, well worth doing around 500 miles so not a weekend walk

Globalize

The article is now slightly more global, but lacks information from South America, Asia, and Australia. --Una Smith (talk) 19:01, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Hyphen in long distance path

Am I alone in finding the use of the hyphen in this three word compound noun awkward. But perhaps there is a difference between American and British and Irish usage? See Long Distance Walkers' Association. "10 of Ireland’s Best Long Distance Walks" Outsider, National Trails. This recent edit by Chris the speller to Walking in the United Kingdom led to this comment.

I also note a tendency on Wikipedia to add a hyphen to twentieth century, etc. Again wouldn't it be better to be removing inconsistencies and standardizing it to the non-hyphenated form (which isn't incorrect as far as I can see – see New Fowler's Modern English Usuage). Again I know that what we grew-up with influences how each person feels about this highly subjective subject. Hope this isn't too much of a rant. Thanks for making me think.Rwood128 (talk) 14:22, 11 April 2020 (UTC)

PS: Long distanced-path? (no, I'm not suggesting that this should be adopted!). Rwood128

That is avoid using hyphens where they are not needed and to do this consistently. Though this is a somewhat thorny, subjective realm, I know. 14:36, 11 April 2020 (UTC)Rwood128 (talk)

You can find almost everything you need to about hyphenation of "long-distance call", "long-distance runner", etc. at the article compound modifier. Also, WP's own guidance is at MOS:HYPHEN. There is generally no difference between usage in American and British usage. The fact that you did not use hyphens properly in "this three word compound noun" (should have one after "three") and "what we grew-up with" (should not have one in a phrasal verb) leads me to think that you could use a little refresher course in punctuation. "The twentieth-century poets Hugh MacDiarmid and Edwin Morgan were particularly influential" needs a hyphen because otherwise a reader seeing "The twentieth century" would start thinking about the hundred-year period and not poets; this creates a bump in the road for the reader. No hyphen is used in "He died in the 17th century", because it's a compound noun, not a compound modifier. You can also refer to dictionaries, such as Cambridge.org. When dictionaries and Wikipedia's Manual of Style indicate the use of a hyphen, it's a good idea to use a hyphen. Chris the speller ^yack 16:38, 11 April 2020 (UTC)

Thanks. I don't find any ambiguity in the sentences about the two twentieth century poets. Your argument here is confusing. I also find the adding of a hyphen to the phrase "three word compound noun" unnecessary (and clutter). This is a highly subjective subject, despite your list of references. My confusion about grew up is perfectly understandable, given the unclear role of the hyphen generally. Adding more doesn't help. Rwood128 (talk) 19:38, 11 April 2020 (UTC)

I'm with User:Chris the speller. Just because you consider established, logical punctuation to be "clutter" doesn't mean we should actively start punctuating incorrectly. Dave.Dunford (talk) 10:26, 12 April 2020 (UTC)

Agreed (that we shouldn't all start punctuating incorrectly at a whim). But what is the logic behind "three-word compound" rather than "three word compound", as there is no ambiguity? Anyhow, perhaps we should agree to disagree, because I've a feeling that this could be an endless debate. Thanks (maybe this new strange life-style is making me overly argumentative). Rwood128 (talk) 12:59, 12 April 2020 (UTC)