h a l f b a k e r yContrary to popular belief
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Should I say 'Digital tyre inflator', you may be left wondering whether I mean 'An inflator for digital tyres', or a 'digital inflator for tyres'. The best way to reduce ambiguity in written text is to use a hyphen: either 'Digital-tyre inflator' or 'digital tyre-inflator' could clear up the meaning.
Verbally we are reduced to using a long pause, or saying 'Hyphen' - 'Digital tyre hyphen inflator'. But this is ungainly and requires an extra two syllables, 'hy-' and 'phen'.
I propose a sonic percussive 'p' to be used as a hyphen substitute in speech: 'Digital tyre P inflator' Pronounced 'Digital tyre PUH inflator'.
This could save a lot of embarrassment and confusion.
It would struggle with this, though
https://en.wikipedi...alo_Buffalo_buffalo
[bhumphrys, Jul 08 2026]
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This might PUH haps work. |
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don't pooh puh pooh this idea. |
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I like what it does for those pompous two last names that are now in fashion. |
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I'm sorry [Pert] and [Pash], but this would be to assist in disambiguation so pooh-pooh doesn't need 'Puh'; that would be a waste of breath. But 'Small puh dog house' and Small dog puh house' are completely different things. |
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Or you could use it to refer to a 'Man puh eating shark' as opposed to something that would happen in a suchi restaurant. Or a wild puh animal trainer. |
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//to assist in disambiguation// |
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In that case, you're going to need audible brackets. |
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Oh I forgot to say 'B', pronounced 'BUH' could be a parenthesis buh bracket buh. |
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That'll have to be buh bracket hub, or nesting will bite you. |
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