How to use two prefixes "comma" "and" stem in two situations [duplicate]

Solution 1:

I would say that

copper-and-iron-based materials

describes materials based on both copper and iron, while

copper- and iron-based materials

means two or more materials, some based on copper and some on iron.

Adding a comma to get

copper-, and iron-based materials

wouldn't change the meaning, since copper- and iron-based materials already has the meaning that the comma gives it in Dutch. You wouldn't include the comma in an English sentence unless it was a list of length at least three, such as

copper-, iron-, and lead-based materials.

In this case, the commas don't change the meaning.

Certainly copper- and iron- based materials means two or more materials, some based on copper and some on iron. See this website, which says:

Suspended Compounds

With a series of nearly identical compounds, we sometimes delay the final term of the final term until the last instance, allowing the hyphen to act as a kind of place holder, as in

The third- and fourth-grade teachers met with the parents.
Both full- and part-time employees will get raises this year.