What Are Compound Words
What Are Compound Words
What Are Compound Words
Compound words are formed when two or more words are put together to form a new word with a
new meaning. They can function as different parts of speech, which can dictate what form the
compound takes on. For example, the word carry over is an open compound word when it’s used
as a verb but it is closed when used as a noun and an a adjective.
Compound words are so prevalent in the English language we don’t think much about them – until
it’s time to write them. Then we often have to stop and think about how they’re put together.
Closed compound words are formed when two unique words are joined together. They don’t
have a space between them and they are the type that generally comes to mind when we think of
compound words. For example:
Cannot Baseball
Fireworks Grandmother
Elsewhere Upside
Together Sunflower
Crosswalk Become
Basketball Moonlight
Football Railroad
Anybody Weatherman
Skateboard Earthquake
Everything Sometimes
Schoolhouse Upstream
Fireflies Grasshopper
Inside Playthings
Open compound words have a space between the words but when they are read together a new
meaning is formed:
The line at the post office snaked all the way out the door and around the corner.
Rhonda is my half sister.
There must be a full moon out tonight.
Hyphenated compound words are connected by a hyphen. To avoid confusion, modifying
compounds are often hyphenated, especially when they precede a noun such as in the case of
part-time teacher, high-speed chase, and fifty-yard dash. When they come after the noun they are
open compounds: a chase that is high speed, a teacher that is part time, etc. Comparative and
superlative adjectives are hyphenated when they are compounded with other modifiers: the
highest-priced computer, the lower-priced car. Adverbs that end in –ly and compounded with
another modifier are not modified: a highly rated restaurant, a publicly held meeting.
One-half Mother-in-law
Eighty-six One-third
Merry-go-round Well-being
Mass-produced Over-the-counter
Daughter-in-law
If you’re concerned for your well-being make sure you eat healthy foods and get plenty of exercise.
It’s true the rules for compound words can be a bit ambiguous at times. The best thing to do when
you have a question about a compound word is look it up. Often times you’ll find options with the
preferred choice listed first. The bottom line is that the only way to know for sure how to spell
compounds is to consult an authoritative source: a good dictionary.
ord Formation:
Blended words are formed when two or more words are combined through dropping several letters
which will give the new word formed a different meaning while Clipped words are formed by
dropping one or more syllables of a longer word or phrase without changing its original meaning.
Both blending and clipping are processes of word formation.
I am a self-confessed workaholic.
Explanation:
The word air - con refers to the process of removing heat and moisture from the interior of an
occupied space.
The word autoplay is any software feature that plays a video, a compact disc, or other application
automatically.
Cosplay refers to a performance art in which participants wear costumes and fashion.
Medicare refers to a government program of medical care especially for the aged.
Telethon refers to a televised fundraising event that lasts many hours or even days.
Thanks bro!
5. café – cafeteria
The professor took the students to the lab for a short experiment.
15. Math – Mathematics
I love Math.
16. memo – memorandum
This is Mrs. Sarifa. Her first name is Darlene. Mrs. Sarifa was born in Philippines and lives in a far-flung barangay
Burgos. St. San Esteban Macabebe, Pampanga. A place where there is no Wi-fi and Cignal. She loves teaching Math.
She also loves English. Every day, Mrs. Sarifa gets up at 6:00 a.m. She always eats her breakfast and read newspaper
every morning. Mrs. Sarifa rides bicycle to school. She is very workaholic and loves to decorate her classroom. At
home, Mrs. Sarifa loves to watch TV with her kids. On Saturdays and Sundays she loves to reread her pocketbooks.
Mrs. Sarifa is really a cool teacher and she is my Math Teacher.