The entries are just sample two-word and one-word forms in context to give you an idea of what might be suitable. It does not cover every possible meaning of these expressions. Note: What follows is not meant to be exhaustive. If you’re tempted to use a one-word spelling elsewhere, try using a two-word or hyphenated form instead. If it’s immediately preceded by “to,” you probably need the two-word phrasal verb. If the word involved is immediately preceded by “a,” “an,” or “the,” you probably need the one-word noun form. There are some insulting phrases that I’m not including here because filters might balk at them, but if you write something like “he’s a real _ because he tends to _” the second blank should be filled in with a two-word non-hyphenated phrasal verb. I’ve also included some examples in which the one-word form is an adjectival form rather than a noun. What follows is a long list of phrasal verbs (first) and their related one-word noun forms (second) with examples that may help you understand what the differences are in standard English. You aren’t likely to write “would you lookafter my cat while I’m gone?”Īll of this is of little use if you’re not clear about what a noun is and what a verb or an adverb is. Some do actually consist of a verb and a preposition, but these rarely cause problems. In the phrase “cool down the broth” “down” is an adverb. Note that some of the adverbs involved can also function as prepositions, but don’t let this confuse you. Most phrasal verbs consist of a verb and adverb combined. If both versions are current, the hyphenated form is usually the more formal one. Such nouns are often hyphenated, at least early in their history (it used to be common to write “make-up exam,” and that is still fine) but there is a strong tendency for such hyphenated forms to evolve into single words. What kind of exam was it? A makeup exam.) Phrasal verbs make up a huge category of expressions in English that careless users often misspell by substituting one-word noun forms for the standard two-word phrasal verb for instance: it would have been a mistake for me to have written “Phrasal verbs makeup a huge category.” It is fine to write “I didn’t want to put on my makeup” (“makeup” is a noun) or “I had to take the makeup exam.” (In this example “makeup” is a noun acting like an adjective modifying another noun-“exam”.