Work out one word or two

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Since the compound workout and the two-word work out are different parts of speech, remembering when to use each is simple. When you need a verb, use work out. When you need either a noun or an adjective, use workout.

Is workout one word or two words?

As a noun or adjective, make it one word: You do a workout. You plan a setup. You complete a login procedure. June Casagrande explains more about compound words and phrasal verbs.

What is the difference between exercise and workout?

So an exercise can be anything: sit-ups, press-ups, going for a jog etc. Any physical sport is considered a type of exercise. A workout is often a routine performed in the gym, the gym-goer will exercise several different muscles in one intense session.

Is workout plural or singular?

The plural form of workout is workouts.

Do you workout meaning?

1 : a practice or exercise to test or improve one’s fitness for athletic competition, ability, or performance. 2 : a test of one’s ability, capacity, stamina, or suitability.

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American culture is undergoing a shift in favor of healthier patterns of living. While exercise and a balanced diet have always been a priority for some people, today more and more Americans than ever are concerned with physical fitness and good eating habits.

When you hit the gym, are you going to a workout or work out?

If you aren’t sure of the difference, you aren’t alone. Many writers are unsure whether to use the compound workout or the individual words work out to describe an exercise session.

What is the Difference Between Workout and Work Out?

In this post, I will compare work out vs. workout. I will use each variation in at least one example sentence, so you can see it in context.

Plus, I will show you a useful memory tool that will make choosing work out or workout a bit easier.

When to Use Workout

What does workout mean? Workout is a noun. It means an exercise session.

Some people schedule regular workouts at gyms or other facilities, and research shows that three or more hours per week of exercise promote improved brain function.

Workout can also be used more generally to mean strenuous or challenging activity.

Here are some examples of each usage,

• “Moving that sofa upstairs was a real workout,” Mark said to Angelo after they had moved into their new apartment.
• “My Wednesday morning workouts before I head to the office are so invigorating,” said the sweaty accountant.
• We talked to several scouts about Tebow’s workout, which was conducted by his representatives at CAA Sports, including two who attended the event. –The Washington Post

Workout can also be an adjective, like in the phrase workout plan.

When to Use Work Out

What does work out mean? Work out is a verb phrase. It means to exercise, especially a planned session in a gym or with a trainer.

Some people work out with a friend, and some people work out alone. Some people like to work out in the morning, while others work out on the way home from work.

Here are a few more examples,

• “I need to work out more; I’m getting a bit chubby,” said Kelvin.
• Be sure to drink plenty of water while you work out, or you run the risk of becoming dehydrated.

Work out could also mean be ok, like in the phrase everything will work out in the end.

It can also mean to devise a solution to something, like in the phrase work out a plan for world domination.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Now, let’s go over a trick to remember workout vs. work out.

Since the compound workout and the two-word work out are different parts of speech, remembering when to use each is simple.

• When you need a verb, use work out.
• When you need either a noun or an adjective, use workout.

Since the compound workout is a noun, just like the compound login, you can use the similarities between these words as reminders of what parts of speech they are.

Summary

Is it workout or work out? These constructions are never interchangeable, so you will need to use each carefully to avoid errors.

Workout is a noun that means an exercise session, or an adjective that describes such a session. Work out is a verb phrase when separated into individual words, and it means to exercise, to find a solution, or to be ok.

Words in English are tricky things. They merge and morph, even little changes adding layers of new meaning. Don’t believe me? Here’s an area I see lots of people getting tripped up: phrasal verbs, like setup vs. set up. Are they one word or two? And does it even matter?

Actually, it’s both, and yes, it does matter. Let’s take a look at why, shall we?

The Power of Phrasal Verbs

What’s a phrasal verb? I’m glad you asked.

It usually includes a verb, like “set,” and a preposition, like “up.” Together, the two words mean something completely different from “set” alone.

Johnny set the table with knives and forks.

Sally set up a display of spring sandals at the shoe store.

Not convinced phrasal verbs make a difference? Let’s play around with “break” and see what phrasal verbs it can make.

According to Merriam-Webster, “to break” is to separate into parts with suddenness or violence. All the phrasal verbs that follow are variations on that theme—but they also have distinct meanings. (In fact, they all have several meanings, but I’ll give just one of each here.)

To break down is to stop functioning because of breakage or wear, like a car breaking down on the highway.

To break up is to end a romance.

To break in is to enter something (as a building or computer system) without consent or by force.

To break out is to make a break from a restraining condition or situation.

Sure, you could just stick with “to break,” but you’d lose the distinct meaning of each of these phrases.

And let’s take one more you’ve probably seen before: to work versus to work out.

To work is to toil or labor. To work out is to exercise. Sure, that might also feel like toil and labor, but it’s a specific kind of toil for a specific purpose.

All right, so we’ve got the two-word phrases down. But what about “setup”? When do these phrases become one word?

Phrasal Verbs in Noun or Adjective Form

Many phrasal words can be transformed into nouns or adjectives. When that happens, they’re written as one word.

Let’s go back to set up vs. set up. To set up is the verbal phrase, and setup is its noun form.

Sally set up an elaborate display of sandals. She hoped customers would find her setup appealing and buy more shoes.

The same is true for most of our break examples:

Evelyn took her car to the shop to prevent a breakdown.

Lily and Tim’s breakup was sad, but amicable.

There’s been a breakout at the jail, and three prisoners escaped.

Breakdown, breakup, and breakout are all nouns.

Phrasal verbs can transform into one-word adjectives, too. Here’s one you might have seen before:

Henry will log in to Facebook using his login information.

To log in is the phrasal verb. Login is its adjective form.

It’s simply not possible to login to Facebook—you must log in.

Phrases That Look Like Phrasal Verbs

Beware—not every set of verbs and prepositions is a true phrasal verb. Some common English phrases are actually redundancies.

To stand up—where else are you going to stand?
To sit down—where else are you going to sit?
To write down—you know what I’m going to ask.
To climb up—I won’t even say it.

Without the prepositions, each verb would mean the same thing. To stand up and to stand are no different; neither are to climb up and to climb. Since the prepositions aren’t necessary to the meanings, these aren’t phrasal verbs.

Interestingly enough, if you used different prepositions, these would become phrasal verbs. To stand down, to sit up, to write up, and to climb down each have unique meanings. For instance, while to stand means to rise to one’s feet, to stand down means to withdraw.

How to Avoid Phrasal Verbs

Do you have to use phrasal verbs? Not always. Many phrasal verbs have single-word synonyms. For example, try these substitutes for the verbal phrases below:

To work out → to exercise
To blow up → to explode
To set up → to arrange

In formal writing, you might want to use the single-word substitutes. In informal writing, though, the verbal phrases can capture a casual, conversational tone.

Keep Your Eye out for Phrasal Verbs

Whether it’s workout vs. work out, setup vs. set up, or login vs. log in, remember they’re always two words when used as a verb. If they’re a noun or adjective, remove that space and make them one word.

Now that you know what to look for, keep an eye out for the phrasal verbs all around you. They may seem designed to trip you up, but with some practice, they’ll be easy to spot.

Do you find phrasal verbs useful or tricky? Let us know in the comments.