Properly Using Hyphenated Clauses

Question

I'm writing a paper about quantum computing and I'm trying to cite a source; however, I feel that the sentence in which I do this is clunky and forced.

According to The Washington Post’s Vivek Wadhwa, these quantum computers are capable of making computations that would take a binary machine years to perform in mere seconds.

I'm trying to divide the "that would take a binary machine years to perform" from the "in mere seconds." Would a hyphenated clause, such as the one below, be a proper solution?

According to The Washington Post’s Vivek Wadhwa, these quantum computers are capable of making computations -- ones that would’ve taken a binary machine years to perform -- in mere seconds.

Comma is your friend. "According to The Washington Post’s Vivek Wadhwa, these quantum computers are capable of performing, in mere seconds, computations that would take a binary machine years to perform." — Hot Licks, Dec 30 '15 at 22:43
(Which is why I still say that we never should have abandoned decimal computers. And centessimal ones would be even better, no?) — Hot Licks, Dec 30 '15 at 22:44
Possible duplicate of Parentheses vs. double commas vs. dashes to provide additional detail — Edwin Ashworth, Dec 30 '15 at 23:06

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 30 '15 at 22:42

0

How about:

According to The Washington Post’s Vivek Wadhwa, these quantum computers are capable of making, in mere seconds, computations that would’ve taken a binary machine years to perform.

answered Dec 30 '15 at 22:42

Senex Ægypti Parvi

2,358

Properly Using Hyphenated Clauses

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