Meaning & use
open compound
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A compound word written as two or more separate words with spaces between them, such as 'bus stop' or 'ice cream'.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an open compound' or 'two open compounds'.
Patterns
- an open compound
- open compounds like something
In English, 'post office' is an open compound because it is written as two separate words.
Teachers often contrast open compounds with closed compounds such as 'bedroom'.
The phrase 'ice cream' is an open compound even though it names one thing.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Written as separate words rather than joined together or hyphenated.
Grammar: Used before a noun: an open compound noun; not usually after a verb.
Patterns
- open compound noun
- open compound form
Some dictionaries list 'high school' as an open compound noun.
The style guide prefers open compound forms for new technology terms.
Word forms
| plural | open compounds |
|---|
Common combinations
- open compound noun
- 'Bus stop' is a common open compound noun.
- open compound word
- An open compound word has a space in the middle.
- write something as an open compound
- The editor decided to write the term as an open compound.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spaced compound
- A less common term with the same meaning; 'open compound' is the standard label in grammar books.
Opposites
Word family
- compound noun
- A word made of two or more smaller words, such as 'football'.
- compounding noun
- The process of making new words by combining existing ones.
Commonly confused: open compound or closed compound? open compound or hyphenated compound?
open compound vs closed compound
A closed compound is written as one word, like 'sunflower'. An open compound keeps the words apart, like 'school bus'.
open compound vs hyphenated compound
A hyphenated compound uses a hyphen, like 'well-known'. An open compound uses a space, like 'real estate'.
Practice
Which of these is an open compound?
Choose one answer.
'Swimming pool' is written as two separate words, so it is an open compound. 'Notebook' and 'breakfast' are closed compounds, and 'mother-in-law' is hyphenated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “open compound”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.