What is the difference between nouns naming states of being or positions ending in -hood and those ending in -ship?
In practice, if one were neologizing such a word how would one decide which suffix to use?
Examples: Apprenticeship; proprietorship; friendship; childhood; falsehood; statehood
Best Answer
If you're creating a neologism, I'd say go with the one that sounds the best.
The -hood suffix, to me, sounds more general and impersonal (or universal) while -ship sounds more personal. But that is entirely my own feeling.
Dictionary.com lists -hood as being "formerly used in the formation of nouns," so if you believe that means it isn't used anymore on new terms then that's an answer of a sort. But I think you're free to do what you wish. Hey, it's your word.
By the way, what's the word you want to create?