核心问题
out of date 与 out-of-date 哪种写法是正确的？
词典解答
复合的形容词 out of date, 只有当用作名词的修饰语时, 中间才用连字符:
-
These are very out-of-date ideas. (ELD) 这些都是很过时的思想。
-
out-of-date methods(LDCE) 过时的方法
-
His information about London was out of date. 他关于伦敦的信息已经过时了。
-
His clothes are rather out of date. (ELD) 他的衣服相当过时了。
其他的复合形容词亦是如此：
He is a first-rate cricketer... 他是一个一流的板球运动员……
A. a well-known collector of seventeenth-century furniture
一位著名的十七世纪家具收藏家
B. The old man was well known for his eccentric behaviour. (Ridout) 这位老人由于他的怪诞的行为为人们所知晓。
A. well-established facts
早已确定的事实
B. The facts are well established.
这些事情完全被证实。
A. well-nourished children
营养良好的儿童
B. The children are well nourished and live in comfortable surroundings. 这些孩子们喂养得好，并且生活在舒适的环境中。