Is the use of "-based" ending acceptable for two words expression?
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Chapters
00:00 Is The Use Of &Quot;-Based&Quot; Ending Acceptable For Two Words Expression?
00:26 Accepted Answer Score 4
01:24 Answer 2 Score 2
01:49 Answer 3 Score 0
02:24 Thank you
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Full question
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#expressions #wordusage
#avk47
ACCEPTED ANSWER
Score 4
If you're a stickler for typographical distinctions (or you have a style guide that is) then you might want to follow the policy that an en dash (–) is used rather than a hyphen, when hyphenating a compound of which one or more components are already compounds. Hence "body tracking–based" or "body-tracking–based". In the latter this policy makes a bigger difference than in the former, with a visually larger line between tracking and based than between body and tracking.
That said, many people happily ignore this use of the en dash, and probably don't suffer much from doing so. Some that do use it, don't if there isn't a hyphen in the original compound, and would happily use your original "body tracking-based".
In terms of "acceptability" then, it's fine. It may be that being technically acceptable isn't enough, and you find that it reads awkwardly for you. This is a more important factor to whether you rewrite or not than any opinion from anyone here on acceptability of the form; correct doesn't necessarily mean good.
ANSWER 2
Score 2
As @BillFranke mentioned in his comment - from a readability standpoint and to answer your question, this reads more smoothly:
"interaction based on body tracking"
@JonHanna's answer correctly addresses the style issue with hyphens vs. en-dashes but strictly applying my own criteria whether something reads smoothly or stops my eye because of complex or awkward style, your second option gets my vote.
ANSWER 3
Score 0
body tracking based interaction
In the OP's context, if the expression has been referred to throughout as body-tracking, that is, with a hyphen, then it would be body-tracking based interaction.
On the other hand, if the document consistently refers to the concept as body tracking without a hyphen, then it would naturally be body tracking based interaction.
In no case can it be body tracking-based interaction, which can imply an entirely different idea.
It is not always necessary, especially now and in future, to hyphenate -based.
