Student t-distribution: why the dash











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In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).



Well then, what exactly is the grammatical justification for calling it




t-distribution




as opposed to just




t distribution




?



Or to put it another way, is there a good name for the practice of using a dash in this kind of context?










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  • single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
    – Mitch
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
    – Barmar
    2 hours ago















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).



Well then, what exactly is the grammatical justification for calling it




t-distribution




as opposed to just




t distribution




?



Or to put it another way, is there a good name for the practice of using a dash in this kind of context?










share|improve this question
























  • single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
    – Mitch
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
    – Barmar
    2 hours ago













up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).



Well then, what exactly is the grammatical justification for calling it




t-distribution




as opposed to just




t distribution




?



Or to put it another way, is there a good name for the practice of using a dash in this kind of context?










share|improve this question















In statistics, the t-distribution is important. It is an approximation to the normal distribution. Of course we don't say "normal-distribution" (with the dash).



Well then, what exactly is the grammatical justification for calling it




t-distribution




as opposed to just




t distribution




?



Or to put it another way, is there a good name for the practice of using a dash in this kind of context?







dashes






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edited 2 hours ago

























asked 3 hours ago









Bjørn Kjos-Hanssen

1737




1737












  • single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
    – Mitch
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
    – Barmar
    2 hours ago


















  • single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
    – Mitch
    2 hours ago






  • 1




    These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
    – Barmar
    2 hours ago
















single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
– Mitch
2 hours ago




single letters alone are considered ugly? (except for 'I' and 'a' (unless those are just the letters and not the single-letter words))
– Mitch
2 hours ago




1




1




These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
– Barmar
2 hours ago




These types of things are jargon of the field, they're often ideosyncratic.
– Barmar
2 hours ago















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