Aug 19, 2010 13:00
13 yrs ago
7 viewers *
English term
This should be done by "mid"(-)next month.
English
Other
Linguistics
Grammar, Prefix
Should such pattern be standard (part of my question), does it take hyphen at all? Similar instances found online don't seem to agree between themselves as to this. Nor did I see any grammars asserting for positive what is right or wrong. Anyone, please? Links backing up answers ruleways would oblige. Thanks!!
References
| Just an idea. |
Suzan Hamer
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Responses
45 mins
Kathryn Litherland
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United States
Versatile technical translator/editor
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English
this should be done by the middle of (the) next month
Next is an adjective, and so it must be modified by an adverb. The words "early" and "late" can function in English as either adjectives (early spring) or adverbs (I woke up early, this should be done by early next week). However, "mid" functions only as an adjective and so must be paired with a noun.
I think it would be grammatically acceptable to say "next mid-month" (preference is toward hyphenation in BrE, no hyphen in AmE), but it's not idiomatic.
Whether to include "the" depends on whether you're talking about a one-time task (this should be done by the middle of next month) or a recurring task (the monthly report should be done by the middle of the next month).
I think it would be grammatically acceptable to say "next mid-month" (preference is toward hyphenation in BrE, no hyphen in AmE), but it's not idiomatic.
Whether to include "the" depends on whether you're talking about a one-time task (this should be done by the middle of next month) or a recurring task (the monthly report should be done by the middle of the next month).
Reference comments
38 mins
Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in English
&
English
Netherlands
Fussy editing for fussy people.
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: English, Dutch to English
Related KudoZ points
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20
Reference:
Just an idea.
Can't you just write "This should be done by the middle of next month"..... Or if you must use "mid"... how about "This should be done by mid-June."?
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Note added at 40 mins (2010-08-19 13:40:34 GMT)
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I think the reason you can't find any source telling you whether it's right or wrong is because it isn't common English usage. People either say "mid-[name of month] or "the middle of next month." I've never come across "mid-next month" or "mid next month". It's just not English (IMO).
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Note added at 40 mins (2010-08-19 13:40:34 GMT)
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I think the reason you can't find any source telling you whether it's right or wrong is because it isn't common English usage. People either say "mid-[name of month] or "the middle of next month." I've never come across "mid-next month" or "mid next month". It's just not English (IMO).
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
kmtext
18 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Armorel Young
: agree entirely - "the middle of next month", "the middle of the following month" or "mid-June", but not a mixture of the two
1 hr
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Thanks, Armorel.
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| agree |
JaneTranslates
2 hrs
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Thank you very much, Jane.
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| agree |
cmwilliams (X)
3 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Phong Le
12 hrs
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Thank you, Phong Le
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| agree |
benettfreeman
307 days
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Thank you, Benett.
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Discussion
http://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3406...
Just because there are lots of hits for something on Google doesn't mean it is standard or correct English . . . I'm an adult native speaker , and never once in my many years said or read or even heard anyone, native speaker or otherwise, use such an expression. You asked if such a pattern should be standard? I think you mean, is it standard English? My answer is "no".