Overview of Compound Nouns

What are Compound Nouns?

Compound nouns are formed by combining two or more words to create a single noun with a distinct meaning. These words can be linked together with hyphens, written as separate words, or merged into one word. Compound nouns can be categorized into three types: open compounds (written as separate words), hyphenated compounds (connected with hyphens), and closed compounds (written as one word).

Types of Compound Nouns

1. Open Compounds:

   • Written as separate words.
   • Examples:
     • Project manager (a person responsible for overseeing a project)
     • Team building (activities aimed at enhancing teamwork and collaboration)
     • Customer service (the assistance provided to customers before, during, and after a purchase)
     • Risk management (strategies for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks)

2. Hyphenated Compounds:

   • Words connected with hyphens.
   • Examples:
     • Cost-effective (producing good results without costing a lot of money)
     • Decision-making (the process of making decisions)
     • Cross-functional (involving people from different departments or areas of expertise)
     • Time-saving (able to save time)

3. Closed Compounds:

   • Written as one word.
   • Examples:
     • Salesperson (someone who sells goods or services)
     • Businesswoman (a woman who is engaged in business activities)
     • Deadline (the latest time or date by which something should be completed)
     • Outsource (to obtain goods or services from an outside supplier)