a hit - and-miss affair , 
(ROOT (FRAG (NP (DT a) (NML (S (VP (NN hit) (HYPH -) (CC and) (HYPH -) (NN miss)))) (NN affair)) (, ,)))
(ROOT (FRAG (NP (DT ) (NML (S (VP (NN ) (HYPH ) (CC ) (HYPH ) (NN )))) (NN )) (, )))