Choosing between “long term” and “long-term” may seem like a small detail, but it plays a big role in writing that’s clear, professional, and grammatically correct. Many writers, students, and professionals often pause before deciding which form to use.
The confusion is understandable—both versions appear everywhere online, and different style guides offer different rules. Whether you’re writing a business report, planning Understanding the difference between compound adjectives, hyphenation rules, and AP style can improve the overall quality of your writing.
Even small choices like this influence how polished and credible your content appears. In academic, creative, and professional writing, mastering these details signals authority and attention to detail—key factors in strong communication.
Why hyphens matter
- They prevent misreading. “man eating shark” vs “man-eating shark.”
- They change grammatical roles. Hyphenated compounds behave as adjectives.
- They improve flow in complex sentences.
Quick rule of thumb
- Use long-term when the compound directly modifies a noun.
- Use long term when it functions as an adverbial phrase following a verb.
This simple split covers most cases. Later sections expand exceptions and handy tests.
Long Term vs Long-Term: the core difference
At its core the difference is grammatical not stylistic.
Long-term = compound adjective (hyphen used when the phrase appears before a noun)
- Example: long-term investment, long-term solution
Long term = adverbial phrase or noun phrase (no hyphen when used after the verb or as a noun)
- Example: Investing long term pays off.
- Example: The long term looks bright.
Table: Side-by-side usage
| Form | Grammatical role | Example | Notes |
| long-term | Compound adjective before a noun | She has a long-term contract. | Hyphen clarifies the words form a single descriptor |
| long term | Adverbial phrase after a verb | The system will work long term. | No hyphen needed after a verb |
| long term | Noun phrase | For the long term this is risky. | Can act as noun phrase without hyphen |
When to use “long-term”
Use long-term before a noun whenever the phrase functions as a single adjective that modifies that noun.
Common examples:
- long-term strategy
- long-term relationships
- long-term effects on health
Why: the hyphen signals that long and term together modify the noun; without the hyphen the reader briefly processes long as a separate adjective and then term, creating a tiny stumble.
Practical tip: If the phrase appears directly before the noun and answers the question what kind of X?, hyphenate.
Examples with explanation
- Long-term care is expensive. — long-term modifies care.
- The board approved a long-term plan. — long-term modifies plan.
When to use “long term”
Use long term when the phrase follows the verb and functions adverbially or when it stands alone as a noun phrase.
Common scenarios:
- After verbs: Prices will remain stable long term.
- As a noun phrase: For the long term, invest in quality.
- In headlines or short labels: Long Term Outlook
Why: adverbial phrases don’t require hyphens. Hyphenating adverbs can confuse reading and appear overly pedantic.
Examples
- They want to stay in the area long term. — modifies stay
- Long term results take patience. — functions as the subject/noun phrase
Common mistakes writers make
Writers often slip into two frequent errors:
Over-hyphenating
- Error: We will plan long-term in the future.
- Why wrong: long term is adverbial here so hyphenation is unnecessary
Under-hyphenating when needed
- Error: She signed a long term contract.
- Why wrong: long-term contract should have a hyphen because it’s a compound adjective before a noun
Confusing line edits
- Text moved from before a noun to after a verb during editing can make hyphens inconsistent. Always re-check after rearranging a sentence.
Mixed style within one document
- Changing between long-term and long term without reason undermines professionalism. Choose the right form and stay consistent.
Style guides and grammar rules
Different style guides offer similar guidance with small nuance. Below are practical summaries from major guides.
AP Stylebook
- Hyphenate compound modifiers before a noun.
- Examples: long-term investment; long term is used after the verb.
Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)
- Recommends hyphenation for compound adjectives before nouns; compound terms that are widely established may be open (no hyphen).
- CMOS suggests judgment for longer or complex compounds.
MLA
- Follows the general rule: hyphenate compound adjectives before nouns. Be consistent.
Practical interpretation
- All three favor hyphen for compound adjectives preceding nouns. If unsure, treat the case like a compound adjective and hyphenate when it sits before a noun.
Quote for clarity
“Hyphenation often depends on function not form; compound modifiers before a noun get hyphens to avoid misreading.” — style guide summary
Tips for remembering the rule
A handful of mental shortcuts makes this intuitive.
Memory tricks
- Before a noun = hyphen.
- After a verb = no hyphen.
- Replace with “extended”. If extended fits, the modifier acts adjectivally.
- Long-term impact → Extended impact works → hyphenate.
- We’ll see impact long term → We’ll see impact extended doesn’t work → no hyphen.
Quick proofreading test
- Move the phrase after the verb.
- If the sentence still reads naturally without hyphen, it probably doesn’t need one.
- If moving it changes meaning or feels odd, hyphenate when it comes before the noun.
Visual cue
- If two words together rename a noun, imagine them glued together. Use a hyphen.
Examples from real writing
Below are practical, categorized examples to internalize usage.
Business writing
- Correct: The company has a long-term growth plan.
- Correct: The company plans to grow long term.
Academic writing
- Correct: Long-term exposure to the chemical causes cellular changes.
- Correct: Researchers studied the population long term.
Emails and memos
- Correct: This policy has long-term implications.
- Correct: We expect to see benefits long term.
Marketing copy
- Correct: Long-term savings for subscribers.
- Correct: Subscribe now and save long term.
Social media (more casual)
- Correct: Thinking long term pays dividends.
- Correct: Long-term success doesn’t happen overnight.
Technical note
- Search algorithms focus on tokens and context. Hyphens sometimes act as separators in queries so including both forms is safer for visibility.
Quick reference cheat sheet
A printable, scannable summary to pin above the desk.
Cheat sheet table
| Scenario | Correct Form | Example |
| Compound adjective before noun | long-term | A long-term agreement |
| Adverb after verb | long term | The plan works long term |
| Noun phrase | long term | For the long term |
| Hyphenation test | Replace with extended | Works → hyphenate |
Dos and don’ts
- Do hyphenate when using as an adjective before a noun.
- Do avoid hyphen when used after a verb or as a noun phrase.
- Don’t mix styles within one document.
- Don’t hyphenate adverbial uses.
Mini case study: Business report vs blog post
Situation
A marketing team drafted a whitepaper titled “Long-Term Brand Growth Strategies”. The same team published a blog post that repeatedly used “long term” even when modifying nouns.
Problem
Internal inconsistency created copy issues. External readers questioned quality control during product vetting. SEO performance dipped for queries around long-term strategy because titles and headings didn’t match the most common search terms.
Action
- Standardized on hyphenation rules for compound adjectives.
- Updated blog headings to match whitepaper titles.
- Ran a sitewide audit to ensure consistent compound modifier hyphenation.
Outcome
- Improved readability in the whitepaper and blog post.
- Organic search impressions rose due to consistent target phrase usage in titles and headings.
- Brand perception strengthened because content looked polished.
Lesson
Consistency across formats matters for trust and discoverability.
Common tricky sentences and fixes
Here are frequent traps and quick corrections.
Tricky sentence 1
- Wrong: They developed a long term plan for sustainability.
- Fix: They developed a long-term plan for sustainability.
Tricky sentence 2
- Wrong: The solution will last long-term if properly maintained.
- Fix options:
- The long-term solution requires maintenance. — hyphenate as adjective
- The solution will last long term if properly maintained. — use adverbial phrase
Tricky sentence 3 (compound noun)
- Wrong: Long term effects are unknown.
- Better: Long-term effects are unknown. — when effects is the noun being described before it appears in the sentence
Practical editing checklist
When proofreading, use this quick checklist.
- Is the phrase before a noun? If yes hyphenate.
- Does the phrase follow the verb? If yes don’t hyphenate.
- Can the phrase be replaced with extended or prolonged and still make sense? If yes the hyphenated adjective likely fits.
- Is the phrase used in multiple places? Maintain consistency.
- Did an edit move the phrase? Re-check hyphenation.
Short quiz: Spot the correct form
Pick the correct option and check answers below.
- She has a __ contract.
- A: long term
- B: long-term
- The company plans to operate __.
- A: long-term
- B: long term
- For the __ prospects, invest wisely.
- A: long-term
- B: long term
- They seek __ partnerships with suppliers.
- A: long-term
- B: long term
Answers
- B — long-term contract (compound adjective before noun)
- B — operate long term (adverbial use)
- B — for the long term (noun phrase)
- A — long-term partnerships (compound adjective before noun)
When exceptions appear
Language evolves and exceptions exist. Be aware but conservative.
Established terms
Some compound phrases become standard as single words or open compounds over time. For example websites used to be hyphenated web-site. Overuse of hyphens can look old-fashioned.
Sentence rhythm or clarity
If hyphenation creates a long, awkward string of hyphenated words, consider rephrasing the sentence to improve flow.
Technical writing
In highly specialized texts, conventions differ. Always consult field-specific style guides.
Resources and further reading
Consult these references for deeper rules and examples:
- AP Stylebook — guidance on hyphenation for compound modifiers
- Chicago Manual of Style — detailed rules on hyphenation and open compounds
- MLA Handbook — grammar and style advice for academic writers
(Include the specific edition of each guide your organization follows to keep consistency.)
Conclusion
Choosing between “long term” and “long-term” doesn’t have to be confusing. Once you understand the basic hyphenation rules, the decision becomes simple: use “long-term” when it acts as a compound adjective before a noun, and use “long term” when it appears after a verb or stands alone as a noun phrase. Mastering these small details strengthens your professional writing, improves readability, and helps you produce cleaner, more authoritative content. Whether you’re creating business documents,
FAQs
1. Is “long-term” always hyphenated?
No. Use “long-term” only when it describes a noun (e.g., long-term plan). Otherwise, use “long term.”
2. Which form is correct in AP Style?
AP Style prefers “long-term” as a compound adjective but uses “long term” when it’s not modifying a noun.
**3. Is “long term” a noun?
Yes. When it refers to a period of time, like “in the long term,” it functions as a noun phrase.
4. Does using the wrong form change the meaning?
The meaning doesn’t change, but incorrect hyphenation can reduce clarity and make writing look less polished.
