I vote for B side for two reasons:
1) "B" isn't an abbreviation for a longer word, as in the examples of "F-bomb" and "C-section."
2) B side would only be hyphenated if it were modifying a noun, as in "B-side song, or B-side track". If it stands alone, it needs no hyphen.
Fred D'Agostino - 10 years ago
I agree with Ann Whitman! The hyphen is used when the unit is used adjectivally.
Ann Whitman has great logic. It seems to me that "A" or "B" in this sort of thing are pronouns that substitute for "main" and "flip." Same thing with A and B lists, for first and second. Two nouns, unless adjectival, wouldn't be hyphenated.
Joan Traffas - 10 years ago
It seems to me that people might more readily use the hyphen when creating an adjective, like, for example, the an A-list actor, and this for the sake of clarity and reading pace. But standing alone, I'm inclined to chose A list and B side.
Russ Hunt - 10 years ago
I agree with Ann Whitman (but I insist that I didn't vote for "slde" my B side has an i in it).
Ann Whitman - 10 years ago
You should only hyphenate "The B Side" if you are using the phrase as a compound modifier. Here's an example:
"B-Side Blues: Mourning Overlooked Musical Greatness on the Flip Side"
Note the question of hyphenating "Flip Side" doesn't even arise here. B Side should be treated the same way.
I vote for B side for two reasons:
1) "B" isn't an abbreviation for a longer word, as in the examples of "F-bomb" and "C-section."
2) B side would only be hyphenated if it were modifying a noun, as in "B-side song, or B-side track". If it stands alone, it needs no hyphen.
I agree with Ann Whitman! The hyphen is used when the unit is used adjectivally.
Ann Whitman has great logic. It seems to me that "A" or "B" in this sort of thing are pronouns that substitute for "main" and "flip." Same thing with A and B lists, for first and second. Two nouns, unless adjectival, wouldn't be hyphenated.
It seems to me that people might more readily use the hyphen when creating an adjective, like, for example, the an A-list actor, and this for the sake of clarity and reading pace. But standing alone, I'm inclined to chose A list and B side.
I agree with Ann Whitman (but I insist that I didn't vote for "slde" my B side has an i in it).
You should only hyphenate "The B Side" if you are using the phrase as a compound modifier. Here's an example:
"B-Side Blues: Mourning Overlooked Musical Greatness on the Flip Side"
Note the question of hyphenating "Flip Side" doesn't even arise here. B Side should be treated the same way.