“Sign” language

Add comment May 25th, 2009

One of the major sources of idiomatic expressions in English is the combination of a verb and a preposition. For example, pairing the verb “sign” with different prepositions yields different meanings: sign away, sign in, sign out, sign on, sign off, sign up.

The words in such verb phrases are kept separate so objects, when needed, can fit in between them: sign your life away, sign me up.

When such phrases become nouns or adjectives, the first step in such an evolution is to insert a hyphen:

“What’s your sign-on?”

” ‘Good night and good luck’ was his signature sign-off.”

“The sign-up period for that class ends Friday.”

Eventually, some such nouns and adjectives lose the hyphen and become one word. So far, that hasn’t happened with the “sign” words.

So, the noun meaning “registration” is still “sign-up,” hyphenated.

These things do make a difference. Notice the change in meaning in “a protester holding a sign up” and “a preschool holding a sign-up.”

Time to sign off for today.