3 Matching Annotations
- Apr 2020
English tends to build new compound nouns by simply writing them as separate words with a blank. Once the compound is established (and the original parts somewhat "forgotten"), it's often written as one word or hyphenated. (Examples: shoelaces, aircraft...)
Web site / website seems to be somewhat in a transitional stage, being seen as an "entity" that web page hasn't reached yet. Depending on which dictionary you check you will find web site and website, but only web page, not webpage.
Other languages, German for example, are notorious for very long compunds like this and this, that are made up and written as one word directly. Perhaps the way your native language deals with compounds explains your (or other authors') personal preference and sense of "right"?
- language: compound nouns
- excellent: explanation
- English usage: one word or two?
- evolution of language
- evolution of language: transitional stage
- personal preference
- German language
- different biases/preferences/assumptions by speakers of different languages