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How do you decide whether a compound should be written as one word, separate words, or hyphenated words?

Compounds

A compound is a word or word group that consists of two or more parts that work together as a unit to express a
specific concept. Compounds can be formed by combining two or more words (as in double–check,
cost–effective, farmhouse, graphic equalizers, park bench, around–the–clock, or son of a gun), by combining prefixes or suffixes with words (as in ex–president, shoeless, presorted, or uninterruptedly), or by combining two or more word elements (as in macrophage or photochromism). Compounds are written in one of three ways: solid (as in cottonmouth), hyphenated (screenwriter–director), or open (health care). Because of the variety of standard practice, the choice among the styles for a given compound represents one of the most common and vexing of all style issues writers encounter.

Compounds in the Dictionary

A good dictionary will list many permanent compounds, compounds so commonly used that they have become
permanent parts of the language. However, a dictionary generally will not list temporary compounds, those
created to meet a writer’s need at a particular moment. Most compounds whose meanings are self–evident from the
meanings of their component words also will not be listed in the dictionary, even if they are permanent and
widely used.

The Compound–styling Conundrum

When compounds begin to be used widely, there may be significant variation in how writers style them, and it can
take years to achieve a high degree of consistency in their format. For many terms, it is often completely acceptable
to choose freely among open, hyphenated, and closed alternatives, even though the term has been used in English for
an extended period (for instance, lifestyle, life–style, or life style). Although the
styling that ultimately takes hold for a compound may be determined by nothing more than editorial preference, there
is one pattern that often holds true as new compounds become entrenched in English. Compound nouns are usually written
as one word, compound verbs are generally written as two, and compound adjectives are very often written with a
hyphen.

Styling Internet– and Computer–Related Terms (e.g., on–line, website, e–mail)

Internet–related compounds are still so new that their preferred styling remains in flux, with the same compound
styled different ways in different publications. Over time, they will likely become more consistent, but what should
writers do now? The following list provides the Internet–term stylings that are currently most widely used in
professionally edited, published writing.

E–mail (with a capital E when used as a noun)
e–mail (with a lowercase e when used as a verb)
online
Web site
Web page
e–book
e–tail
webcam
webcast/webcaster
webmaster (often cap)
dot–com

Text for this article was adapted from Merriam-Webster’s Manual for Writers and Editors.

Источник

The word compound means one thing that is composed of two or more elements. When you hear the word compound, you might think of a chemical compound, compound interest, or you might just use the word as a synonym for a mixture. Compounding is also a grammatical phenomenon, and there is a lengthy list of compound words in the English language.

Compound Words Definition

Simply put, compound means one thing made of many things. The definition for compound words means just that.

Compound words: two or more words joined to create a new meaning.

Compound words are not two random words thrust together. Compound words will be two words that are frequently found together, such as late-night, nice-looking, or seafood.

Compound words are usually two base words used together. Remember, base words are standalone words that signal a particular meaning, even when stripped of affixes (example: success in successful).

That’s not to say, however, that compound words can’t use derived words. Derived words are words that are built on a root, typically with the addition of an affix (example: teach + er = teacher). Many compound words include derived words (coffee maker, sewing machine, skyscraper).

The process of compounding is different from derivation and inflection — both of which typically involve adding an affix to change a word’s grammatical category. While derivation, inflection, and compounding are all a process for creating new words, compounding uses two base words, rather than a single base word and an affix (e.g., -ing, im—, or -ed).

Compounding in English Examples

Compounds help us understand words as a single unit, which in some cases helps to clarify the meaning of a word or phrase in English.

Let’s look for a vegan-friendly restaurant.

Fig. 1 — A «vegan-friendly» restaurant is different from a «vegan, friendly» restaurant.

Using a hyphen here shows the reader that the words vegan and friendly should be taken as a single unit. Otherwise, it might be read as, “Let’s look for a vegan friendly restaurant,” with vegan and friendly being two different adjectives to describe a restaurant.

When new things, ideas, or phrases come into the collective consciousness of the public, they need a name or something people can say to refer to them. Compounding words is one of the most (if not the most) common types of word formation in English because it is so easy to do.

These new words can be figurative like chairman (the head of a committee or group, not a chair-shaped man), or simply a combination of the meaning of each of the base words, like lighthouse (a house of light).

Just email me, and I’ll respond to it later.

The word email wasn’t used until the late twentieth century because email, or electronic mail, didn’t exist until then. There was a need to create a word to communicate this new idea of sending a message electronically, and e-mail —which became email, without the hyphen — was a simple option.

Types of Compound Words

There are three types of compound words: open, closed, and hyphenated.

Open Compounds

Open compound words are formed by combining an adjective with the noun it modifies to create a new noun. These compound words are usually the result of two words being so frequently used together that they eventually come to mean one specific thing.

Shopping cart

Potting soil

Real estate

Even though these words are separated with a space, they’re still considered a single unit. You can tell it’s an open compound word, rather than merely a noun modified by an adjective, because the two words are so regularly used together to mean something specific.

For example, real is not used as the modification of the word estate to express it’s real as opposed to a fake estate. Real estate is the business of buying and selling property and buildings on said property.

Closed Compounds

Closed compound words look the most like a “real word” because there is no space between the two roots.

Keyboard

Pothole

Tablecloth

Two words might form a closed compound because they are so frequently used together.

Fig. 2 — Email is a newer word that came from two base words: electronic and mail.

In the 1990s when someone wanted to connect to the internet, they might say they were going to go on-line (cue the sounds of dial-up internet and a male voice saying, “You’ve got mail”). Today in the twenty-first century, the internet is a part of our everyday experience, and so the word has lost its hyphen and is typically shortened to online.

Hyphenated Compounds

The final type of compound words are hyphenated compounds. These are words that — just like closed and open compounds — are frequently used together. The hyphen connects these words, so they function as one unit.

A hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark that shouldn’t be confused with a dash (–). A hyphen connects two words or word parts, whereas dashes indicate a pause or range. Dashes can be short (an “en dash” which is the length of the letter n) or long (an “em dash” which is the length of the letter m).

Long-term

Close-up

Empty-handed

Many hyphenated compounds become closed compounds if they’re used frequently enough.

Hyphenating Compound Words

You might wonder, “How do I know when to hyphenate a compound word?” There are many rules regarding hyphens in general, and here are the ones that are key in hyphenating compound words.

Only hyphenate when the compound comes before the noun it will modify. If it comes after, don’t include a hyphen.

The man-eating bear was only a few yards away. vs. The bear was definitely a man eater.

When a compound modifier contains an adverb ending in -ly and a participle or adjective, don’t use a hyphen.

A highly contested race.

Unfortunately, there is not always a consensus about whether to hyphenate compound words or create a closed compound word. If you’re ever in doubt about whether to hyphenate a compound word, consult a dictionary or the appropriate style guide for a definitive answer.

Compound Words List

Here is a longer compound words list for reference.

Open Compound Words

Sun room
Cheer up
Summer break
Garage sale
Dress up
Fire pit
Jumping jack
Science fiction
Vice President
Swimming pool

Closed Compound Words

Dishware
Bookstore
Seatbelt
Birthday
Carpool
Limelight
Comeback
Candlelit
Football
Lawsuit

Hyphenated Compound Words

House-of-mirrors
Self-contempt
Father-in-law
Well-read
Full-length
Free-fall
High-rise
Life-size
Deep-fried
Right-handed

Compounding — Key takeaways

Compound words are two or more words joined to create a new meaning.
Compound words are usually two base words used together.
Compounds help us understand words as a single unit, which in some cases helps to clarify the meaning of a word or phrase.
There are three types of compound words: open, closed, and hyphenated.
There is not always a consensus about whether to hyphenate compound words or create a closed compound word.

Источник

There are various classes of words in the English Language ranging from nouns to prepositions. All these have been discussed in the post, Parts of Speech. However, some words are regarded as compound words. This post gives 1000 Compound Words Examples out of the several thousands of examples of compound words in English.

There is no end to how many compound words there are in English; but with these 1000 Compound Words Examples in English, though not exhaustive, you can research further on other compound words not captured here or, probably, generate your own.

1000 Compound Words Examples
What is a Compound Word?
Compounding: A Word Formation Process
Types of Compound Words
- Closed Compound Words
- Hyphenated Compound Words
- Open Compound Words
What Determines Types of Compound Words
Classifications of Compound Words
- Noun-Noun
- Noun-Verb
- Noun-Adjective
- Adjective-Noun
- Adjective-Verb
- Verb-Verb
- Verb-Noun
- Verb-Preposition
- Preposition-Noun
- Preposition Noun (Phrase) Combinations
- Preposition-Verb
- Other Combinations
1000 Compound Words Examples
1000 Compound Words Examples (A-D)
1000 Compound Words Examples (D-N)
1000 Compound Words Examples (N-S)
1000 Compound Words Examples (S-W)
1000 Compound Words Examples (W-Z)
Closing Words and Related Posts

Before I list the 1000 Compounds Word Examples in English, it would be great to describe compound words. The question then comes: what is a compound word? Let us proffer an answer to this important question…

What is a Compound Word?

Compound words in English are usually formed when we join two or more words together. In other, words, a compound word is the combination of two or more free morphemes to form a new word.

Compounding: A Word Formation Process

This takes us to the concept of Compounding, which is one of the word formation processes in English. Compounding takes place when two or more free morphemes that can stand severally on their own are brought together to create a new word. It could happen that the meaning of a compound word could be related to or different from the meaning or connotation it its constituent parts when considered severally.

Types of Compound Words

There are three types of compound words and these include: closed compound words, hyphenated compound words and open compound words. See more…

Closed Compound Words

In the closed compound words, the words involved are combined together. Closed compound words, most likely, are usually monosyllabic units already established in the language for a long time. Examples include: flowerpot, keyboard, notebook, bookstore, basketball, etc.

Hyphenated Compound Words

For the hyphenated compound words, a hyphen is used to join the words involved; for example: mother-in-law, merry-go-round, off-the-cuff, etc. The use of a hyphen in this instance helps to prevent ambiguity.

Open Compound Words

In the open compound words, there is a space between the compound words that are written together such as school bus, living room, carbon dioxide, snow white, blood red, etc.

What Determines Types of Compound Words

What determines if a compound word is classified as closed, hyphenated or open could depends on whether we use it as a noun, adjective or verb.

Verbs are usually open. For example:

You must always back up the files on your computer.
It is not good for students to carry over their courses
Police usually follow up on a new lead.

Adjectives and nouns are usually closed or hyphenated. For instance:

You can access backup copies of your files in case of any eventuality.
The students had many carryovers in their courses.
The police had already worked on the follow-up lead.

Adjective–adjective compounds, as well as, verb–verb compounds, such as blue-green and freeze-dried, are often hyphenated. Compounds that contain articles, prepositions or conjunctions, such as rent-a-cop, mother-of-pearl and salt-and-pepper, salt-and-sugar, hard-and-fast, etc. are also often hyphenated.

Longer words usually fall under the category of open compound words such as distance learning, player piano, lawn tennis, etc.

It is important to note that usage or forms of compound words in American English and British English Usage varies and is usually contingent on the individual choice of the writer rather than on a hard-and-fast rule; therefore, it is possible to encounter closed, hyphenated, and open forms for the same compound noun, such as the trio of:

Container ship, container-ship or containership
Particle board, particle-board or Particleboard.

Classifications of Compound Words

The constituent words in a compound word can be classified based on their Word Classes or Parts of Speech. We can call this type of classification a Syntactic Classification. The constituent words may be from similar Part of Speech or may be of different parts of speech. Let us see some examples:

Noun-Noun

This is an instance where both constituent words in the compound words are nouns. Examples include: airport, wallpaper, textbook, doorknob, waterbed, wastebasket, football, cufflinks, housewife, lawsuit, wallpaper, basketball, sodium chloride, classroom, workstation, tapeworm, crankshaft, etc.

Noun-Verb

The noun-verb compound word has a noun as the first constituent and a verb as the second constituent. For example: browbeat, sidestep, manhandle, safeguard, water borne, value-added, rocket-propelled, sunbathe, airlift, etc.

Noun-Adjective

The noun-adjective combination has a noun as the first constituent and an adjective as the second constituent. Examples include: snow white, world population, overcoat, trustworthy, blood red, handpicked, world famous, heartbroken, heart problem, prize worthy, lead strong, worldwide, lifelong, tax-free, sky blue, self-important, spoon-fed, praiseworthy, water-repellant, air-tight, bulletproof, etc.

Adjective-Noun

This is an instance where the first constituent word in the compound word is an adjective and the other one a noun. Examples include: blackboard, smartphone, whiteboard, badmouth, blue sky, red light, four wheel, full-time, long-term, etc.

Adjective-Verb

This instance is when the first constituent is an adjective while the second word in the compound word is a verb. Examples of this instance include: whitewash, blacklist, highlight, proofread, shortlist, etc.

Verb-Verb

In this instance, both constituents of the compound words are verbs. Examples include: typewrite, test-drive, freeze-dry, etc.

Verb-Noun

This is an instance where the first constituent word in the compound word is a verb and the other one a noun. Examples include: dreadnought, typewriter, breakfast, cutthroat, pickpocket, killjoy, spoilsport, know-nothing, breakwater, carrycot, etc.

Verb-Preposition

In this instance, we have a combination of a verb and a preposition forming the compound word respectively. Examples of this instance include: Roll off, roll on, stick on, walk on, stand by, walk through, see through, lay by, cut through, lookout, Work on, take down, take away, tear up, etc. Some of these examples also pass for Phrasal Verbs. You can take a look at the over 500 Phrasal Verbs discussed here.

Preposition-Noun

In this combination of compound words, we have a preposition coming first and followed by a noun. Examples of this combination include: overview, downsize, upgrade, underworld, oversight, undergraduate under-development, etc.

Preposition Noun (Phrase) Combinations

Examples of Preposition-Noun Phrase include: Off-the-record, over-the-counter, off-the-cuff, round-the-block, off-the-deep-end, off the hook, off the wall, off-your-head, off-your-own-bat, off-your-rocker, round-the-twist, round-the-corner, etc.

Preposition-Verb

This combination comprises a preposition and a verbs in the first and second constituents respectively. Examples include: overhang, counterattack, undercut, overpay, counterbalance, overrate, underlie, outrun, outvote, overreact, oversleep, overwork, undersell, undervalue, etc.

Other Combinations

There are other possible combinations like:

Adjective-adjective (blue-green)
Adverb-preposition (forthwith)
Verb-adverb (tumbledown)
Preposition-adjective (overripe, off-white)
Verb-adverb (takeout)
Preposition-adverb (without)
Compound Adverbs (moreover, however, nonetheless, furthermore, meanwhile)
Determiner-Noun Combinations or wh-forms (anyhow, somewhere, nowhere, sometimes, anytime)

You can attempt to fit the 1000 examples of compound words provided below into their appropriate combinations. I’m sure that should not be difficult for you to do.

It is also important to note that compound words in English, save for exceptions, are usually stressed on their first words.

1000 Compound Words Examples

It is really impossible to give an exhaustive list of all the compound words in English; especially, those that fall under the open class segment as there is no end to compound words that could be therein generated. But the list below contains 1000 Compound Words Examples in English. For emphasis, there are thousands of other examples. So, the list is not limited to what is provided below. Take a look…

1000 Compound Words Examples (A-D)

Above-board
Afterglow
Afterimage
Afterlife
Afternoon
Airbag
Airbase
Airborne
Aircraft
Airfield
Airlift
Airline
Airmen
Airplane
Airport
Airtight
Airtime
All-over
Allspice
Alongside
Anybody
Anyhow
Anymore
Anyone
Anyplace
Anytime
Anyway
Arm-twist
Ashtray
Baby bed
Baby boom
Baby boomers
Baby carriage
Baby-faced
Babyhood
Babyminder
Babysit
Babysitter
Backache
Backbeat
Backbench
Backbenchers
Backbend
Backbite
Backblast
Backbone
Backbreaker
Backdrop
Backfire
Background
Backhand
Backlash
Backlog
Backpack
Backside
Backslap
Backslide
Backspace
Backspin
Backstage
Backstroke
Backtrack
Backward
Ballpark
Ballroom
Bandwagon
Bankbook
Bankroll
Baseball
Basketball
Beachcomb
Bedclothes
Bed lamp
Bedrock
Bedroll
Bedroom
bedspread
Bellbottom
Bellboy
Bellhop
Below
Berrylike
Billboard
Billhook
Bitterroot
Bittersweet
Bitterweed
Bitterwood
Blackball
Blackberries
Blackbird
Blackboard
Blackjack
Blacklist
Blackmail
Blackout
Blackpool
Blacksmith
Blacktop
Blowgun
Bluebell
Blueberry
Bluebird
Bluefish
Bluegrass
Blueprint
Boardwalk
Body bag
Body-boarding
Body blow
Bodybuilder
Body hair
Bodywork
Bodyguard
Bodywork
Boldface
Bookcase
Bookend
Bookkeeper
Bookmark
Bookmobile
Bookseller
Bookshelf
Bookstore
Bookworm
Bootstrap
Bowlegs
Bowtie
Brainchild
Brainwash
Brotherhood
Brow beat
Bugspray
Butterball
Buttercup
Butterfingers
Butterflies
Buttermilk
Butternut
Butterscotch
Bypass
Cabdriver
Candlelight
Candlestick
Candyfloss
Candytuft
Cardboard
Cardsharp
Cardstock
Carefree
Caretaker
Careworn
Carfare
Cargo
Carhop
Carload
Carpetbagger
Carpool
Carport
Carrack
Carryall
Carsick
Cartwheel
Catchword
Cattail
Catwalk
Caveman
Centercut
Cheeseburger
Cheesecake
Classmates
Classroom
Clockwise
cocksure
Coffeemaker
Comeback
Comedown
Commonplace
Commonwealth
Cornmeal
Counterattack
Counterproductive
Courthouse
Courtyard
Crewcut
Crossbow
Crossbreed
Crosscut
Crossover
Crosswalk
Dairymaid
Daisywheel
Daybed
Daybook
Daybreak
Daydream
Daylight
Daytime
Deadbeat
Dead body
Deadbolt
Dead drop
Dead-end
Deadeye
Deadfall
Dead heat
Dead letter
Deadlight
Deadline
Dead load
Deadlock
Deadlocked
Dead mail
Dead march
Dead metaphor
Dickhead
Dick test
Dishcloth
Dishpan
Dishwasher
Dishwater
Diskdrive
Dog-tired
Dogwood
Doorstop
Double agent
Double-barrelled
Double-bedded
Double bond
Doublecross

1000 Compound Words Examples (D-N)

Double-date
Double-decker
Downbeat
Downcast
Downcourt
Downtime
Downtown
Downtrodden
Downunder
Drawbridge
Driveway
Duckbill
Duckpin
Duckweed
Earache
Eardrop
Eardrum
Earring
Earthbound
Earthquake
Earthward
Earthworm
Egghead
Eggshell
Elsewhere
Everything
Extraordinary
Eyeballs
Eyebath
Eyebeam
Eye-catching
Eyeglasses
Eyelash
Eyelid
Eyesight
Eyewitness
Fatherhood
Fatherland
Firearm
Fireball
Fireboat
Firebomb
Firebreak
Firecracker
Firefighter
Fireflies
Firehouse
Fireproof
Firewater
Fishbowl
Fisherman
Fisheye
Fishhook
Fishlike
Fishmonger
Fishnet
Fishpond
Fishtail
Football
Foothill
Footlights
Footlocker
Footnote
Footprint
Footprints
Footrest
Footwear
Forbearer
Forbid
Forebode
Forearm
Forebear
Forebrain
Forecast
Forecastle
Foreclose
Foreclosure
Foredoom
Forefather
Forefeet
Forefinger
Forefoot
Forego
Foregone
Foreground
Forehand
Forehead
Foreknowledge
Foreleg
Foreman
Foremost
Forepaws
Foresee
Foreshadow
Foresight
Forestall
Forethought
Foretell
Foretold
Forever
Forewarn
Foreword
Forget
Forgive
Forklift
Format
Fortnight
Friendship
Fruitcup
Gearshift
Glassmaking
Goodbye
Goodnight
Grandaunt
Grandchild
Grandchildren
Granddaughter
Grandfather
Grandmaster
Grandmother
Grandnephew
Grandnieces
Grandparent
Grandson
Grandstand
Granduncle
Grasshopper
Grassland
Graveyard
Gumball
Haircut
Hamburger
Hammerhead
Handbook
Handcuff
Handgun
Handmade
Handout
Headache
Headdress
Headlight
Headline
Headquarters
Heaven-sent
Heavenward
Helpdesk
Helpline
Helpmate
Hereafter
Hereby
Herein
Hereupon
Herself
Highball
Highchair
Highland
Highway
Himself
Homemade
Hometown
Honeybee
Honeybees
Honeycomb
Honeycreeper
Honeydew
Honeymoon
Honeypot
Honeysuckle
Hookup
Hookworm
Horseback
Horsefly
Horsehair
Horseman
Horseplay
Horsepower
Horseradish
hotbed
hothead
Houseboat
Household
Housekeeper
Housetop
Housework
However
Intake
Interstate
Ironwork
Itself
Jackpot
Jailbait
Jellybean
Jellyfish
Jetliner
Jetport
Jumpshot
Jumpstart
Keyboard
Keyhole
Keynote
Keypad
Keypunch
Keystone
Keystroke
Keyway
Keyword
Lacklustre
Lifeblood
Lifeboat
Lifebuoy
Lifeguard
Lifejacket
Lifelike
Lifeline
Lifelong
Lifesaver
Lifestyle
Lily-livered
Lifetime
Lifework
Limelight
Limestone
Longhand
Longhouse
Lukewarm
Mainland
Mainline
Matchbox
Meantime
Meanwhile
Moneybag
Moneylender
Moonbeam
Moonflower
Moonlight
Moonlit
Moonscape
Moonshine
Moonstruck
Moonwalk
Moorfields
Moorfowl
Moorland
Mopboard
Moreover
Mothball
Motherhood
Motorcycle
Nearby

1000 Compound Words Examples (N-S)

Nevermore
Newborn
Newfound
Newsboy
Newsbreak
Newscaster
Newsdealer
Newsletter
Newsman
Newspaper
Newsperson
Newsprint
Newsreel
Newsroom
Newsstand
Newsworthy
Nightfall
Noisemaker
Northeast
Notebook
Noteworthy
Nowhere
Nursemaid
Nutcracker
Offbeat
Off-record
Oilbird
Oilcan
Oilcloth
Oilfield
Oilman
Oil-rich
Oneself
Onetime
Outbalance
Outbid
Outboard
Outdoor
Outflank
Outflow
Outlive
Outnumber
Overabundance
Overboard
Overcoat
Overflow
Overland
Overshoes
Overview
Pacemaker
Pancake
Passbook
Passkey
Passover
Paycheck
Peppermint
Pickup
Pinhole
Pinstripe
Pinup
Pinwheel
Pipe-borne
Play-actor
Playback
Playbill
Playbook
Playboy
Play day
Play dough
Playground
Playhouse
Playthings
Ponytail
Popcorn
Postcard
Poverty grass
Poverty level
Poverty line
Poverty trap
Poverty-stricken
Priesthood
Punchbag
Punchboard
Punchbowl
Racquetball
Railroad
Railway
Rainbow
Raincheck
Raincoat
Raindrop
Rainstorm
Rainwater
Rattlesnake
Rattletrap
Repairman
Riverbanks
Rollerblade
Rollercoaster
Roller-skating
Rubberband
Sailboat
Salesclerk
Sand dune
Sandlot
Sandstone
Saucepan
Scapegoat
Scarecrow
Schoolbook
Schoolboy
Schoolbus
Schoolhouse
Schoolwork
Seaport
Seashore
Setback
Shadyside
Sharecropper
Sharpshooter
Sheepskin
Shipbottom
Shoelace
Shoemaker
Shortbread
Showoff
Showplace
Sideburns
Sidekick
Sideline
Sideshow
Sidestep
Sidetrack
Sidewalk
Silver age
Silver ash
Silver beech
Silver bell
Silver berry
Silver-blue
Silver-bodied
Silver bromide
Silver-bush
Silver cord
Silver dollar
Silver fern
Silver fir
Silverfish
Silver grass
Silver-gray
Silver-green
Silver-haired
Silversmith
Sisterhood
Sixfold
Skateboard
Skintight
Skylark
Skylight
Skyscraper
Slapstick
Slowdown
Slumlord
Smartphone
Snakeskin
Snowball
Snowbank
Snowbird
Snowboard
Snowdrift
Snowfall
Snowflakes
Snowshovel
Softball
Software
Somebody
Someday
Somehow
Someone
Someplace
Something
Sometimes
Somewhat
Somewhere
Soulmate
Soundproof
Southeast
Southwest
Soybean
Spacewalk
Spearmint
Spillway
Spokesperson
Stagehand
Stage-manage
Standby
Standoff
Standout
Standpipe
Standpoint
Starfish
Steamboat
Steamship
Stepson
Stockroom
Stonewall
Stoplight
Stopwatch
Storerooms
Stronghold
Subway
Sunbaked
Sunbathe
Sunbeams
Sunbelt
Sunberry
Sunblock
Sunburn
Sunday
Sundial
Sundown
Sunfish
Sunflower
Sunglasses
Sunlit
Sunrays
Sunroof
Sunup
Supercargo
Supercharge

1000 Compound Words Examples (S-W)

Supercool
Superego
Superfine
Supergiant
Superhero
Superhighways
Superhuman
Superimpose
Superman
Supermarket
Supermen
Supernatural
Superpower
Superscript
Supersensitive
Supersonic
Superstar
Superstrong
Superstructure
Supertanker
Superweapon
Superwoman
Sweetheart
Sweetmeat
Swift-footed
Swordfish
Tablecloth
Tablespoon
Tabletop
Tableware
Tadpole
Tagalong
Tailbone
Tailcoat
Tailgate
Taillight
Taillike
Tailpiece
Tailspin
Takeoff
Takeout
Takeover
Talebearer
Taleteller
Tapeworm
Taproom
Taproot
Taskmaster
Taxicab
Taxpayer
Teacup
Teammate
Teamwork
Teapot
Teaspoon
Teenager
Telltale
Tenderfoot
Tenfold
Textbook
Themselves
Therefore
Throwaway
Throwback
Thunderbird
Thunderbolt
Thunderclap
Thundercloud
Thunderflash
Thunderhead
Thundershower
Thunderstorm
Thunderstruck
Timekeeper
Timepieces
Timesaver
Timesaving
Timeshare
Timetable
Tonguefish
Tongue-lash
Toolbox
Toothpaste
Toothpick
Touchdown
Township
Turnabout
Turnaround
Turnbuckle
Turncoat
Turndown
Turnkey
Turnoff
Turntable
Typewrite
Typewriter
Underachieve
Underact
Underage
Underarm
Underbelly
Underbid
Undercharge
Underclothes
Undercover
Undercurrent
Undercut
Underdevelop
Underdog
Underestimate
Underexpose
Underfoot
Underground
Upbeat
Upbringing
Upcoming
Upcourt
Update
Upend
Upgrade
Upheaval
Upheld
Uphill
Uphold
Upkeep
Upland
Uplift
Uplink
Upload
Upmarket
Uppercase
Upperclassman
Uppercut
Uppermost
Upright
Uprising
Uproar
Uproot
Upscale
Upset
Upshot
Upside
Upstage
Upstairs
Upstanding
Upstart
Upstate
Upstream
Upstroke
Uptake
Upthrust
Uptight
Uptime
Uptown
Upturn
Upward
Upwind
Vainglory
Viewpoint
Vineyard
Violin cello
Volleyball
Voltmeter
Vouchsafe
Waistline
Walkways
Walleyed
Wallpaper
Wardroom
Warehouse
War advocacy
War baby
War bride
War chest
War cloud
War correspondent
War crime
War criminal
War cry
Warfare
Warlike
Warmonger
Warmblooded
Warpath
Washboard
Washbowl
Washcloth
Washhouse
Washout
Washrag
Washroom
Washstand
Washtub
Wastebag
Wastebasket
Wastebin
Wasteland
Wastepaper
Wastewater
Watchband
Watchdog
Watchmaker
Watchman
Watchtower
Watchword
Waterbed
Water beetle
Water birch
Waterbird
Water biscuit
Waterboarding
Water boatman
Waterborne
Waterbottle
Water boy
Water buck
Water buffalo
Water bug
Watercolour
Watercooler
Watercourse
Watercraft
Waterfall
Waterfowl
Waterfront
Waterline
Waterlog

1000 Compound Words Examples (W-Z)

Watermark
Watermelon
Waterpower
Waterproof
Waterscape
Watershed
Waterside
Waterspout
Watertight
Waterway
Waterwheel
Waterworks
Wavelength
Wavelike
Waxwork
Waybill
Wayfarer
Waylaid
Wayside
Wayward
Weathercock
Weatherman
Weatherproof
Weekday
Weekend
Weeknight
Wetland
Whatever
Whatsoever
Wheelbarrow
Wheelbase
Wheelchair
Wheelhouse
Wheelhouse
Whereabouts
Whipcord
Whip hand
Whiplash
Whiplike
Whipsaw
Whip snake
Whipstitch
Whipstock
Whiptail
Whip through
Whip top
Whiteboard
Whitecap
Whitefish
Whitehall
Whitehead
Whitewall
Whitewash
Widespread
Wipeout
Wisplike
Without
Wood ant
Woodblock
Woodborer
Wood-burning
Woodcarver
Woodcarving
Woodchip
Wood coal
Woodcock
Woodcraft
Wood-creeper
Woodcutter
Wood duck
Woodshop
Yachtsman
Yachtsman
Yachtsmen
Yachtsmen
Yard bird
Yard birds
Yard land
Yard lands
Yard wand
Yard wands
Yard work
Yard works
Yardarms
Yardman
Yardmaster
Yardmasters
Yardstick
Yardsticks
Yearbook
Yearbooks
Yearlong
Yellow fin
Yellow fins
Yellow ware
Yellow wares
Yellowhammer
Yellowhammers
Yellowlegs
Yellowtail
Yellowtails
Yellowthroat
Yellowthroats
Yellowwood
Yellowwoods
Yokefellow
Yokefellows
Yokemate
Yokemates
Youngberries
Youngberry
Youth quake
Zoo technical
Zoogeographer
Zoogeographers
Zoogeographies
Zoogeography
Zookeeper
Zoosperms
Zootechnics

Closing Words and Related Posts

It is possible that some of these 1000 Compound Words Examples could be written differently in other instances where they appear; but remember that this also depends on the choice of the writer to select any of the three types of compound words that we have. However, there are some of these compound words that have to be written based on acceptable convention. You can check out other related posts as listed below:

9 Types of Nouns with Examples

10 Examples of Complex Sentences

100 Examples of Synonym Words

100 Examples of Compound Sentences in English

25 Examples of Complex Sentences

50 Examples of Simple Sentences

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Though
structurally and semantically many English compounds look like word
groups, compounds
are more ‘word-like’ than free syntactic phrases.

Compounds,
unlike free syntactic phrases, are inseparable
vocabulary units that
should be specially
learned and presented in a dictionary as a special entry or
sub-entry. This inseparability
is usually established by graphical, morphological, phonetic, or
semantic criteria.

Graphically
a
compound is usually one orthographic word and may be spelled with a
hyphen
between its parts (grass-green,
dog-biscuit, dog-collar) or
solidly (Sunday,
handbook,penman,
schoolmaster).

But
spelling does not provide an accurate guide to differentiation
between compounds and word
groups because many compounds are written like word combinations with
a space: bus
stop, post office, jugular vein, jam session, freezing point, plate
glass. There
are few hardfast rules concerning spelling compound words in English.
Compound words similar in
meaning may be spelled differently in the same dictionary, as in
tooth-paste
but
tooth
powder,
baby carriage but
baby-sitter
[LDCE],
penknife
but
pen-pocket
[NND].
Futhermore,
different authors may use different spellings of the same words (for
example, word-formation
and
word
formation). Even
in different dictionaries one and the same word
may be presented in a different way: grapefruit
[LLCE]
— grape-fruit
[OALDCE]
[WNCD]
—grape-fruit,
grapefruit [LDCE];
skateboard
[LLCE]
— skate-board
[LDCE]
[WNCD][OALDCE]; grass
roots [WNCD]
[LDCE] — grass-roots
[OALDCE];
see also war-path
and
warpath,
dog-house and
doghouse,
snow-man and
snowman,
snow-flake and
snow/lake.
Solid
orthography of compounds is especially characteristic of American
English.
So, graphic criterion is not always helpful in determining a compound
word.

Many
scholars suggest that a
particular stress pattern should
be taken into consideration as
a criterion for compounds. Phonetically
compounds
acquire a new stress pattern that is different
from the stress in motivating words. Their first component may have a
high stress
(a ‘hot-house,
a ‘key-hole, a ‘doorway, ‘ice-cream, ‘common-wealth, ‘commonplace,
a ‘common-room), or
a double stress with a primary stress on the first syllable (a
‘washing-
machine; a ‘ dancing-_tgirl).

This
criterion is not universal either because it is important only for
pronunciation of forms
in isolation. In a text there is a lot of variation in forms’
pronunciation. Even when

pronounced
in isolation some compounds may have two level stresses (‘icy-‘cold;
‘grass-‘green,
in ‘apple- pie ‘order) which
may be observed in word combinations (cf.: ‘common
‘knowledge, ‘common ‘sense)
or
they may have a high stress on the last component
( grass-‘roots,
grass-‘widow, apple-‘sauce (US=‘apple-sauce})
which
is more
characteristic of free word groups. So, though there is a certain
consistency in a speech
community in stressing compounds, in some cases the general rules do
not determine
the ‘wordness’ of a form.

Morphologically compounds
make up one inseparable unit with a strict order of components
and a new or single paradigm (cf.: rich
— richer — the richest and
oil-rich
—
more oil-rich, the most oil-rich; a shipwreck — shipwrecks, a
week-end — weekends).
Elements
within the compound cannot be reordered, for additional items cannot
be inserted
between them.

However,
this criterion is not always reliable, especially in N-N compounds
(paper-basket)
and
similar structures with attributive noun use as in stone
wall. In
both cases the order of components is strict and the first noun
component in the singular form does not display
its usual paradigmatic forms (for e.g. in this construction it may
not be used in plural).

Semantic
criterion seems
to be more valuable and has wider applicability. Semantically
compounds
differ from nominal phrases like peace
years or
stone
wall because
they usually
carry additional idiomatic semantic component (a
player
piano ‘a
piano that is played
by machinery, the music being controlled by a piece of paper’,
laughing-gas
‘gas
which
may cause laughter when breathed in, used for producing
unconsciousness, esp. during short operations for removing teeth‘,
fiddle-sticks inter/
‘Nonsense!
How silly!’). Such
components are usually not found in free phrases.

When
the additional idiomatic component is very important or prevails in
the lexical meaning
of a compound, the latter may be considered to be partially
motivated as
in handcuffs,
a flower-bed, laughing-gas, grass-roots or
completely
demotivated as
in grass-widow,
wet-blanket, fiddle-sticks. These
compounds are very close to idioms, can hardly be differentiated from
them, and often are presented in dictionaries of idioms with such
word groups as red
tape or
small
hours (see
Chapter 6).

When
this additional idiomatic component is minimal as in girl-friend
or
icy-cold,
the
compound may be regarded as fully
motivated. The
meaning of the whole unit may be deduced
from the meaning of its constituent parts and their arrangement. Such
compounds are most closely related to free word combinations.

So,
there is not a single criterion that will distinguish compounds and
word groups in English.
This is especially the case with regards to fully motivated nominal
compounds like girl-friend,
dish cloth and
nominal phrases corresponding to an o/-phrase that have developed
some referential unity, as in stone
wall or
life
story. Yet,
the phonological,

syntactic and semantic features of compounds, especially when they
work simultaneously, act like a binding force and make them distinct
from phrases

|3. Classification of compounds]

Classification of compounds may be done according to various
principles.

1. First of all, from
the derivational point of view one
should distinguish between compounds
proper that
are made up of two derivational bases (sauce+pan)
and
derivational,
or pseudo-compounds, that
look like compounds only on the morphological
level because they have more than one root but are derived by
conversion, affixation,
back-formation and other name derivational processes (a break-down,
a pickpocket,
long-legged).

Derivational
compounds are
further subdivided into three groups: derivational compound
nouns, derivational compound adjectives and derivational compound
verbs.

Derivational
compound nouns
are
usually built by conversion
on
the basis of so-called
phrasal
verbs: cast-offs
from
to
cast off, a break-through from
to
break through,

by substantivization
of a
phrase often accompanied by productive suffixation
as in (six
inch-)+-er,
{two
deck-)+-er, or
by prefixation
applied
to a
compound derivational base as
in
ex-+(house+wife).

Many
scholars believe that completely demotivated compounds like
fiddle-sticks, grass-widow,
scape-goat should
also be referred to this group because their meaning is completely
different from the lexical meanings of their constituents. They are
believed to be
the final results of lexical-semantic
derivation.

Derivational
compound adjectives
are
built by suffixation
applied
to a free word group
reduced to a stem: (broad
shoulder-)+-ed, (heart shape-)+-ed or
by adjectivalization
(cleanup
adj
from
clean-up
n
from clean
up v; apple-pie adj
‘of,
relating
to, or characterized by traditionally American values (as honesty or
simplicity)’ (from
the noun apple-pie).

Derivational
compound verbs
are
created by means of conversion
applied
to a compound
derivational base: to
weekend from
a
week-end or
by means of back-derivation
applied
to a compound derivational base where one of the 1C is a
suffixational derivative:
to
babysit from
a
baby-sitter, to dryclean from
dry-cleaning.

2. Classification of
compounds may also be done according
to the part of speech they belong
to.

In modern English word
composition is mainly characteristic of nouns
(sunbeam,
Sunday,
sunshine). The
most common patterns for noun compounds are: n+n—>N
(ice-

cream)
and
adj+n—>N
(blackboard,
software). Noun
compounds may also be the result of compounding
adverbial and nominal stems adv+n—>N
as in after-thought,
back-talk. Compound
nouns with a verb as the first or the second component (v+n—>N
as in searchlight,
or
n+v—>N
as in sunshine)
take
place in English, too, though it is not quite clear
whether it is really a verb or a converted noun.

Word composition in modern
English is widespread among adjectives,
too. The
most common type of compound adjectives is the combination of two
derivational bases: nominal and adjectival (n+adj—»Adj):
airtight,
life-long, stone-deaf, foolproof, and
sugarfree.

There
are also many other different patterns according to which compound
adjectives may be
derived: composition of two adjectival bases (adj+adj—>Adj)
as
in deaf-mute,
bittersweet,
of
nominal and participial bases (n+Ving/ed—>Adj)
as
in peace-loving,
dog-tired, man-made,
of
adjectival and participial (adj+Ving/ed—>Adj)
as in
hard-working,
double-ended,
or
even adverbial and participial bases (adv+Ving/ed—>Adj)
as
in well-read,
over-qualified. But
verbs do not combine with adjectives in English compounds.

Composition
is not characteristic of modern English pronouns,
though
historical traces of former
word composition processes are still observed there (somebody,
anywhere, nothing,
oneself).

In modern English verb
composition
does not occur nowadays, though it was quite common in the past and
was effected by compounding adverbial and verbal stems: outgrow,
offset, inlay. Verbs
that look like compounds are usually the result of other derivational
processes like conversion
(to
honeymoon, to snowball) and
back-derivation
(to
proofread, to baby-sit, to dry-clean). Some
verbs such as to
apple-polish vi
‘to
attempt to
ingratiate oneself and vt
‘to curry
favour with (as by flattery) are condensed and lexicalized
expressions rather than derived words by composition. As with an
idiom, we need
to recall the verb’s original usage to understand its contemporary
meaning. As it is stated in the dictionary of etymology, the verb
appeared from the traditional practice of school
children bringing a shiny apple as a gift to their teacher. So, in
the case of verbs we usually
deal with pseudo-compounds,
or
derivational
compounds.

3.
Semantically,
compounds
are divided into:

—endocentric, or
subordinative,
where the
second element is the head and hyperonym
for the compound: sunshine,
airtight, blackboard (they
make up the bulk of modern
English compounds);

—
exocentric (or bahuvrihi) where
neither the first nor the second element is the head
or a hyperonym of a compound. This includes denvated compound nouns
fiddlesticks,
grass-widow, scape-goat with
the least degree of semantic motivation;

—
coordinative, or copulative, (or dvandva),
where
both the derivational bases are
equally important. They are subdivided into: reduplicative:
fifty-fifty,
hush-hush;
phonetically
varied
rhythmic
twin
f
o rm s: chit-chat,
zigzag,
a walkie-talkie; additive:
girl-friend,
sofa-bed, oak-tree, Anglo-American.

4.
Compounds may be classified according
to the means of composition into:

1)
those without
linking elements that
are formed by merely placing one base after another; they are
subdivided into:

a) syntactic
compounds that do not violate syntax laws of word combining
in English: house-dog,
day-lime, a red-breast, a baby-sitter, and

b)asyntactic
compounds
in which the order of constituents violates syntax
laws in English: oil-rich,
power-driven, early-riser;

2)
those with
a linking element o
(most
characteristic of scientific terms), i, or s
(not
productive in modern English): Anglo-Saxon,
sociolinguistics, handicraft, sportsman.

5.
Compounds
may also be classified according
to the part~of-speech meaning of their derivational
bases. There
are:

—
nominal compounds
with n+n
bases:
windmill,

—nominal-verbal
compounds
built according to the patterns n+(v+-er)
bottle-opener,
n+(v+-ing)
police-making,
n+(v+-tion/ment)
though the
second element is seldom
or never used in modern English as a free form, office-management,
n+(v+conversion)
dog-bite;

—
nominal-adjectival with
the pattern n+adj:
snow-white;

—
adjectival-nominal with the pattern adj+n:
blackboard;

—
adverbial-verbal
bases: outgrow,
offset, inlay

—
verbal-adverbial
(v + adv) + conversion: a
break-down; and
some others.

6. Compounds may also be
classified according
to the structure and semantics of free word
groups with which they correlate. For
example, the structural pattern of a compound noun
n+n
correlates
with various verbal-nominal word groups of the V+N type
(subject+verb,
or verb+object) (to make
image): ‘the
one who makes image’ is an image-maker
or
‘the result or process of making image’ is image-making.

7.
A special type of compounds such as telegram,
telephone, astronaut, aerophones is
called
neoclassical.
In
these compounds different elements from classical languages Latin or
Greek acting as roots and derivational bases combine with each other
forming new words
(see Classification
of morphemes above
in this chapter).

Many new words are created
when elements that started out as segments in blends become combining
forms making the new words look like compounds or at least a suffixal
derivative: rice-a-rony,
sport-a-rama, plant-o-rama, porn-o-topia, work-o-holic. This
is especially common in advertising and commerce.

Compounds
should not be mixed up with word
groups of phraseological character like
mother-in-law,
brother-in-arms, bread-and-butter, milk-and-water, or
longer
combinations
of words in attributive function that
for stylistic purposes may be treated like
unities and thus hyphenated: the-young-must-be-right
attitude, the nothing-huts of his
statements. These
constructions are neither compounds nor phraseological units. They

are usually treated as a
result of lexicalization of syntactic structures (see also
‘Compression’
in ‘Minor types of word-formation’).

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Источник

The words pancake, living room, and merry-go-round have something in common.

They are all examples of compound words.

The noun compound means something made up of two or more separate components. Compound can also be an adjective meaning consisting of two or more parts or components.

A compound word is one word, or one unit of meaning, that is created by joining two or more separate words together.

What Are Compound Words?

A compound word is a word made up of usually two but sometimes more words that are joined together. The two (or more) that make the compound word are independent words; they have their own distinct meanings. When those words are joined and form a compound word, that compound word has its own new meaning.

The Three Types of Compound Words

Compound words can take three possible forms: closed, open, or hyphenated. In closed form, there is no space between the joined words. In open form, there is a space between the “joined” words that still act as one unit, and in hyphenated form—you guessed it! There is a hyphen between the joined words.

These general “rules”—which are somewhat fluid and flexible—provide guidance as to what format a compound word takes.

Closed compound words are usually nouns: They put on makeup.
Open compound words are usually nouns or verbs: I have to make up (verb) that exam at my high school. (noun)
Hyphenated compound words are usually adjectives or adverb-adjective combinations: I have to take a make-up (adjective) exam. I will be well-prepared. (adverb + adjective)

The key word in each of those examples is “usually.” Some compound words break the rules. We’ll see how soon.

1. Closed Compound Words

To review: closed compound words are usually made up of two separate words that are put together to form a new word. There is no space between the two words in a closed-form compound word; the compound appears as one single word.

Examples of Closed Compound Words

Cup + cake becomes cupcake
Basket + ball becomes basketball
Key + board becomes keyboard
Extra + ordinary becomes extraordinary
Birth + day becomes birthday

You can see through these examples that the meaning of the compound word is not just a merger of the independent definitions of the individual words that join together to make that compound.

However, there is a relationship between the individual word meanings and the compounds. Compound words have been integrated into language as speakers have discovered those relationships. It makes perfect sense to call a cake that could fit into a cup a cupcake and to call a ball thrown through a basket (now a hoop) a basketball.

The rules for compound words, listed earlier in the post, include the word usually. That word means the rules are not hard and fast, and there are examples of compound words that break those rules.

For example, compound words that are verbs are usually open form, but here are rule-breaking closed-form compound verbs that remind us to hold those rules loosely:

I need to proofread my essay.
I think the clerk shortchanged me.
I have to babysit my little sister.

2. Open Compound Words

In an open compound word, there is a space between the two independent words, though they are still treated as one unit with a new “compound meaning.”

Examples of Open Compound Words

Living room: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a room in a house.
High school: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a school that has students in grades 9-12.
Post office: as a unit, this compound refers to a building where mail is collected, sorted, and sent.
Give up: as a unit, this compound verb means to stop trying.
Ask for: as a unit, this compound verb means to request something.

3. Hyphenated Compound Words

Hyphenated compound words have hyphens between each of the independent words that serve as connectors. The hyphens are a visual cue that the words form one unit.

Some compound words are always hyphenated.

Merry-go-round
Mother-in-law (and brother-, sister-, and father-in-law)
Self-esteem

Did you notice that all of those examples are nouns? Remember: the rules are flexible!

Examples of Hyphenated Compound Adjectives:

When compound words are used as adjectives (officially known as compound adjectives), the hyphenation rules change depending on where the compound adjective comes in the sentences.

If the compound adjective comes before the noun it modifies (describes), you should usually add a hyphen:

High-speed chase
Part-time employee
Full-time job
Fire-resistant pajamas
Good-looking person
Well-respected politician
Up-to-date records

Of course, there are exceptions. Remember, those “rules” are flexible. Some compound adjectives that precede the nouns they modify never take a hyphen. For example, ice cream and high school:

High school students
Ice cream sundae

There’s really no “why” to explain these exceptions; we’ve just adopted these forms and made them part of our language.

Examples of Open-Form Compound Adjectives

If the compound adjective comes after the noun it modifies, the hyphen is usually omitted.

Make sure the files are up to date. “Up to date” modifies, but comes after, the noun “files.”
The cat is two years old. “Two years old” modifies, but comes after, the noun “cat.”

Though post-noun modifiers don’t technically take hyphens, according to Merriam-Webster, usage trends indicate the hyphens are often included anyway, if the compounds “continue to function as unit modifiers.” So there’s that flexibility again.

What About Adverb Compounds?

It’s easy to find examples of closed, open, and hyphenated adverbs.

As for the closed-form examples, we probably don’t even register them as compound words much of the time.

Sometimes
Thereafter
Somewhere

Open-form adverbs occur when the adverb is the first word in the compound and ends in —ly. You should not hyphenate after an —ly adverb.

We made the discovery early on.
Her opinion is highly regarded.
They entered the dimly lit room.

What to Do If You’re Not Sure Which Form Is Right

While those flexible rules can help you, there may still be times when you feel confused about which compound form to use. Don’t stress too much.

According to Merriam Webster, the rules are more like patterns. You may see differences in different publications depending on editorial choice and style. For example, I looked on Amazon for a teapot. I saw mostly teapots, but also a few tea pots. Out of curiosity I put “tea pot” into a New York Times search bar, and found articles from the 1800s that included “tea-pot” in the title!

While interesting, those stylistic changes and choices shouldn’t be too surprising. Language is fluid and ever-evolving. Compound words themselves are proof of that evolution.

Keep Clarity the Focus

The purpose of hyphens in compound words is to ensure clarity. For example,

I bought over-the-counter medication.
He passed the medicine over the counter.

In the first example, I know by the hyphen that the medicine «I» bought did not require a prescription. «Over-the-counter» is one unit—one compound—describing a type of medicine.

In the second example, «over the counter» is serving another purpose and, while the words form a phrase to tell me where «he» passed the medicine, hyphens do nothing to make the purpose of the phrase clear and are therefore unnecessary.

Now look at these examples:

He owned a little-used car.
He owned a little used car.

In the first example, I know the man owns a car that has not been driven much. The car is described by the compound modifier «little-used.»

In the second example, it seems that the man owns a used car that is also small, or little. In this example, putting a comma after «little» would help to separate the two words, «little» and «used,» and show that they aren’t intended to work as a compound.

ProWritingAid Can Help

Though you’re a compound-word expert now, if you find yourself with lingering doubts, remember that ProWritingAid is here to help. It will let you know if you’ve added an unnecessary hyphen after an -ly adverb, or if you’ve left one out of a pre-noun compound adjective. You don’t have to write alone!

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20 Editing Tips from Professional Writers

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This guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers.

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Scientists are big into molecular compounds, and there is something kind of magical about them. You can start with a couple of atoms of hydrogen, add another atom of oxygen, and bada bing: water. Two distinct elements come together to create something entirely different.

It’s exactly the same with words. Well, maybe not exactly the same, but English is such a flexible, creative language that it’s filled with compound words—and new ones are popping up all the time to suit our ever-changing world. Some useful compound words recently added to Merriam-Webster are clickbait, photobomb, binge-watch, humblebrag, and spit-take.

So what is a compound word? How do you know whether it should be a closed compound, a hyphenated compound, or an open compound? What about compound sentences? We’ll look at all of these in this post.

When two (or occasionally, three) words work together to express a single idea, that’s a compound word. Compound words can be open, closed, or hyphenated, and they can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. English is full of preexisting compound words—or you can make up your own to suit the situation.

No one at the Star Trek convention really appreciated my Klingon-librarian costume.

The lung-collapsing dead-flower stench of my aunt Penelope’s perfume was headache-inducingly strong.

What is an open compound word?

An open compound word is two separate words (without even a hyphen to link them) functioning as a single idea.

When we were in high school, we regularly ate French fries, hot dogs, and ice cream with peanut butter as an afterschool snack.

What is a hyphenated compound word?

A hyphenated compound word is a term composed of two (or more) words connected by a hyphen. Like other compound words, a hyphenated compound can be a noun, adjective, or adverb.

The gun-toting, card-carrying FBI agent hid her angst well.

What is a closed compound word?

A closed compound word is a single word constructed of two or more other words. Most closed compound words were once open or hyphenated, but continued use solidified them—made them a single unit. Today’s open or hyphenated compounds are tomorrow’s closed compounds.

The moonlight coming through my bedroom window is so bright it outshines my flashlight.

Every afternoon, she wrote another story in her notebook; my favorite is the one about the starfish who loved rainbows and strawberries.

How do you know whether a compound word is open, hyphenated, or closed?

There’s really no trick to this! You look it up in a dictionary (like Merriam-Webster). Compound words evolve over time, so what was once black-bird is now blackbird, and what was once a web site is now almost always a website.

Don’t worry if you find dictionaries contradicting each other! Not every dictionary agrees on which compounds are open, hyphenated, or closed. Some offer health care and voice mail, for example, as two words, but others hyphenate or close those same compounds. In such cases, you’re free to use the spelling you prefer, except if you’re supposed to be following a particular style guide.

For example, the Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) says that when a compound modifier comes before a noun, it’s never wrong to hyphenate it, since it can aid readability.

The seventy-year-old professor despaired for the dull-witted students in her late-afternoon class.

But (Chicago goes on to say) when compound modifiers follow the noun, leave them unhyphenated (even if they’re hyphenated in the dictionary).

The professor, who was almost seventy years old, couldn’t understand why her students were so dull witted by late afternoon.

What is a compound noun?

Compound words can be nouns, adjectives, adverbs—and even verbs (like pole-vault or double-click). In each case, they can be open, hyphenated, or closed. Compound nouns are perhaps the most common type of compound word. Here are some examples of compound nouns (some closed, some open, some hyphenated).

Susan’s grandmother, my mother-in-law, had a skylight above the bookcase in her living room that let in rainwater.

Watch out for the sometimes-unusual plurals of hyphenated compound nouns.

The workmen fixing the two merry-go-rounds in the local park typically catcalled all passersby, but they stopped once our attorneys-at-law sent them a warning.

What is a compound name?

A compound name is essentially a compound proper noun—a multiword term (often an open compound, though not always) that names a single entity.

Like Popeye, Black Panther gets at least some of his powers from eating his greens—in his case, the heart-shaped herb. But I bet Superman liked Cheez-Its better.

What’s important here is that these proper nouns are always preexisting compounds, so if you’re turning an open compound name into part of a compound modifier (see more about compound adjectives and adverbs below), you’ll need to use an en dash rather than a hyphen.

My new World War I–era cloche didn’t really go with anything in my New York–style wardrobe, so naturally I had to go shopping.

What is a compound adjective?

A compound adjective is a single adjective made up of more than one word—and it’s often a compound noun (or even compound name) being used to modify another noun. According to CMoS, it’s never wrong to hyphenate multiword adjectives when they precede a noun, even if they’re familiar open compounds like high school.

High-school students often have more brain-draining homework than college students.

My silly-voiced sister found her calling in advertising.

When a compound name functions as an adjective, there’s no need for a hyphen.

Penny was thrilled to win Dolly Parton tickets.

The Los Angeles weather is typically hot and sunny.

As touched on above, when a compound adjective follows a noun, the hyphen is usually not necessary.

Georgia is a well-read academic.

Georgia is well read.

I found a useful list of low-calorie cocktails.

I found a useful list of cocktails, all of them low calorie.

Remember that compound adjectives made from an adverb ending in –ly plus an adjective are never hyphenated. The -ly is enough of a signal that what follows is meant to be read together with the preceding word.

Sarah’s short-tempered grandfather griped about her recital, calling it a really dull concert.

Sarah’s grandfather, always short tempered, griped about her recital, describing it as really dull.

What is a compound adverb?

A compound adverb looks like a single word but (closely examined) is actually made up of two or more words working together to function as a single adverb. They’re often rather old fashioned, and they can sound stuffy and pompous so are best used sparingly: notwithstanding, nevertheless, heretofore, albeit, and so on.

Phrasal adverbs are very similar to compound adverbs, and they’re rather more useful.

I scattered rose petals here and there.

The newly married couple walked arm in arm.

Joseph goes running every day.

What is a compound sentence?

And here’s the bonus section (because the last thing we want to do is compound anyone’s confusion about compounds)!

Compound sentences are grammatically unrelated to compound words, but that still doesn’t answer the key question: What is a compound sentence? A compound sentence is when two or more independent clauses, each with its own subject and verb plus attendant objects and phrases, are joined with a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS: for, and, nor but, or, yet, so). Here, the key thing to remember is to always include a comma after the first independent clause and before the conjunction.

I read this blog post about compound words, but they didn’t explain about compound sentences, so I had to keep on searching.

My son’s story about the strawberry-loving starfish was really cute, so I sent it to my sister, and she loved it too.

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