Here’s the thing about the English language, in general, that’s not just specific to compound words: It’s full of pitfalls — simple errors that can alienate readers, turn off subscribers, and annoy buyers. That’s why Copyblogger has historically put a heavy emphasis on avoiding incorrect spelling and usage, such as these 11 common grammar mistakes. And when you’ve been doing this as long as we have, you’re going to discover even more common errors. The most recent for me, though, has been a host of compounds. “What is a compound word?” you ask … let me show you what I mean. What is a compound word?
A compound word is simply a word that is formed from two or more other words. Typically, the new combination of words creates a new or broader meaning. Compound words often produce writing mistakes because it’s easy to forget if they’re spelled as one word or two words. If they aren’t
Latest Mailing Database double-checked (see what I did there?) by an editor, they can lead to glaring errors. Types of compound words There are three main types to keep in mind: open compound words, closed compound words, and hyphenated compound words. If we take a look at each one, you’ll not only be better positioned to spot a compound word in the future, you’ll also cut down on spelling mistakes. Open compound words I think the open variety are the most tricky to spot. A key characteristic of this type is that they’re two separate words frequently used together. Since they’re two separate words, it can be confusing to identify them.
However, you know they’re compound words because they need to be written in a specific order to achieve a specific meaning. Examples: Relationship building Coffee table Yoga mat Each separate word is a noun, but the combination creates more descriptive language. Closed compound words Now that we’ve covered open compounds, closed compound words should be pretty straightforward. They combine two nouns into a single word to create a compound word with a different definition. Examples: Eyeglasses Frontrunner Handwriting Notice how each word is a standard word that can be broken down into two separate words. A compound word isn’t a blend of two words, such as a portmanteau. Hyphenated compound words Hyphenated compound words can be easily confused with open ones. Sometimes, a writer will hyphenate words when they should be separated with a space, or vice versa.
