Style Manual
General Usage Questions

C12. Correct Spelling/Usage: Compound Nouns with Differing Verb Forms

backup (noun & modifier); back up (verb)
blastoff, liftoff (noun); blast off, lift off (verb)
break-in (noun); break in (verb)
breakup (noun); break up (verb)
cleanup (noun & modifier); clean up (verb)
crackup (noun & modifier); crack up (verb)
crossover (noun & modifier); cross over (verb)
cutoff (noun & modifier); cut off (verb)
dropout (noun and modifier); drop out (verb)
flare-up (noun); flare up (verb)
follow-up (noun & modifier); follow up (verb)
frameup (noun); frame up (verb)
mix-up (noun); mix up (verb)
mop-up (noun & modifier); mop-up (verb)
pileup (noun); pile up (verb)
pullback, pullout (noun & modifier); pull back, pull out (verb)
push-up (noun & modifier); push up (verb)
ripoff (noun & modifier); rip off (verb)
roundup (noun); round up (verb)
send-off (noun & modifier); send off (verb)
set-up (noun & modifier); set up (verb)
shake-up (noun & modifier); shake up (verb)
shutdown, shutoff (noun & modifier); shut down, shut off (verb)
shutout (noun & modifier); shut out (verb)
sit-in (noun); sit in (verb)
smashup (noun & modifier); smash up (verb)
speedup (noun); speed up (verb)
stand-in (noun & modifier); stand in (verb)
standout (noun & modifier); stand out (verb)
standoff (noun); stand off (verb)
takeout (noun & modifier); take out (verb)
takeover (noun & modifier); take over (verb)
takeup (noun & modifier); take up (verb)
tie-in (noun); tie in (verb)
tie-up (noun); tie up (verb)
trade-in (noun & modifier); trade in (verb)
tradeoff (noun); trade off (verb)
tuneup (noun); tune up (verb)
walkout (noun & modifier); walk out (verb)


Return to Table of Contents