"Makeup," "Make-up," or "Make Up"?
Should I write "makeup," "make-up," or "make up"?
- For the noun and adjective, use "makeup."
- I have bought some new makeup.
(Here, "makeup" is a noun.)- I have bought a new makeup box.
(Here, "makeup" is an adjective.)
- For the verb, use "make up."
- I will make up the dancers first.
Do I Write Make-up, Makeup, or Make Up?
The word "makeup" is a compound noun, which means it is a noun comprising at least two words. In the case of "makeup," it is a compound noun made up of a verb ("make") and a preposition ("up"). Compound nouns can be closed (without a space), open (two words), or hyphenated. "Makeup" is a closed compound noun.Read more about compound nouns.
Write Makeup (for the Noun)
There are no definitive rules about when to use a hyphen (make-up), nothing (makeup), or a space (make up) with compound nouns. The best thing to do is use your spellchecker to determine whether the one-word version is a spelling mistake. If it isn't a spelling mistake (NB: "makeup" isn't), then you should use the one-word version as it is the most efficient and is highly likely to be the most current version of the noun. In summary, you should opt for "makeup" over "make-up" and "make up." Therefore:
- makeup
- make-up
- make up
(It is a little harsh to mark "make-up" and "make up" as wrong, but they are not the preferred style.)
Write Makeup (for the Adjective)
As "makeup" is the most efficient and current version of the noun, it follows that it should be used as the adjective too. Therefore:
- makeup artist
- make-up artist
(It is a little harsh to mark "make-up" as wrong, but it is not the preferred style.)- make up artist
("Make up" is a poor choice for the adjective because it should have a hyphen to mark it as a compound adjective, i.e., a single adjective comprising more than one word.)
When "makeup" is used as an adjective, it is, in fact, not a normal adjective but an attributive noun. This is why there is no distinction between "makeup" the noun and "makeup" the adjective. They are both "makeup" the noun. (You can read more about attributive nouns on the adjectives page.)
Write Make Up (for the Verb)
As a verb, "make up" is a phrasal verb, i.e., a verb made up of a verb and another word (either a preposition or a particle). In the case of "make up," "make" is the verb and "up" is a preposition. Phrasal verbs are never merged into one word or joined with hyphens. Therefore:
- Anne, please make up the witch for the next scene.
- I will make-up your daughter to look like a princess.
- Can you makeup the lion?
- Can you make the lion up?
(Note: "Make up" is a separable phrasal verb.)
Read more about phrasal verbs.
When it comes to the usage of "makeup," "make-up," or "make up," it can be a bit tricky to discern the correct form. My expertise in language and grammar allows me to dive deep into these distinctions.
Firstly, the noun and adjective forms both favor the one-word version: "makeup." For instance, "I have bought some new makeup" (noun) and "I have bought a new makeup box" (adjective). The term "makeup" as a compound noun combines the verb "make" with the preposition "up," forming a closed compound noun.
The most efficient and contemporary style is to use the one-word version, "makeup," as it typically aligns with current language usage. While "make-up" and "make up" aren't necessarily incorrect, they are not the preferred styles for the noun and adjective forms.
When it's used as an adjective, "makeup" functions as an attributive noun, indicating that there's no distinction between its noun and adjective usage. Therefore, phrases like "makeup artist" should be written without a hyphen: "makeup artist."
As for the verb form, "make up" is the correct rendition. It constitutes a phrasal verb, comprising a verb ("make") and a preposition ("up"). Phrasal verbs, by nature, don't merge into a single word or include hyphens. For example, "Anne, please make up the witch for the next scene."
Understanding these nuances in usage comes from an understanding of compound nouns, attributive nouns, and phrasal verbs. My knowledge in linguistics and grammar helps clarify these subtleties in language usage.
FAQs
The alternative spelling make-up is favored by the Oxford Dictionary and thus is often considered to be British, while makeup, being preferred by Merriam Webster's dictionary, is the generally accepted American spelling and the most common form currently in Google Ngrams.
Is make up test one word or two? ›
If a verb, it's two words (“make up”) as in “You can make up the test after school.” If a noun or adjective, it's one word, no hyphen (“makeup”).
Is it team makeup or make up? ›
TL;DR: Make-up is the noun used when describing cosmetics. Make up is the verb used when describing construction/creation or reconstruction. Makeup and make-up are both nouns, and mean the same thing. These two are a case of if hyphens should be used in compound words.
What is the difference between makeup and make up for? ›
Makeup is a noun that means the constitution or composition of something. It can also be used to indicate a cosmetic product. Make up is a verb that has multiple meanings. It can mean to reconcile, to invent something, to combine, or to compensate for something.
How do you use makeup in a sentence? ›
Examples of makeup in a Sentence
She put on some makeup before the party. She applied her makeup lightly.
Is makeup already plural? ›
The noun “make-up” can be countable or uncomfortable. In more general, commonly used, contexts, the plural form will also be “make-up”. However, in more specific contexts, the plural form can also be “makeups” e.g. in reference to various types of makeups or a collection of makeups.
What is makeup or make up Oxford dictionary? ›
make up | make yourself/somebody up. to put powder, lipstick, etc. on your/somebody's face to make it more attractive or to prepare for an appearance in the theatre, on television, etc. related noun make-up (1)
What does test make up mean? ›
A makeup exam is an exam that a student takes to make up for a missed or failed exam. This type of exam is usually given to students who were unable to take an exam on the scheduled date due to illness, personal emergency, or other valid reasons.
Should we use make up? ›
Makeup helps you to protect your skin and keep it safe from pollution, smog etc that harm your skin. Makeup creates a slight barrier around your skin to keep it from being directly exposed to dust. While makeup is not going to offer total protection, the risk of being harmed will at least remain minimal.
Why is makeup called makeup? ›
The industry has gained international acclaim over the years also thanks to Polish beautician Maksymilian Faktorowicz, referred to as the 'father of makeup', who created the renowned line of cosmetics called Max Factor in the U.S. In 1920, Faktorowicz invented the word makeup as an alternative to saying cosmetics.
A make-up artist, also called a makeup artist, and often shortened to MUA, is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions including all aspects of the modeling industry.
Who makes it makeup? ›
In 2016, IT Cosmetics was acquired by L'Oréal, in their largest US acquisition to date, making Jamie the first woman to hold a CEO title in L'Oréal's 108-year history.
What is a word for making up for something? ›
Synonyms. compensate for. redress. Victims are turning to litigation to redress wrongs done to them. make amends for.
What does the verb to make up mean? ›
to invent a story, etc., especially in order to trick or entertain someone He made up some excuse about his daughter being sick. I told the kids a story, making it up as I went along. You made that up!
What counts as makeup? ›
FDA regulates products that we think of as “makeup” –such as lipstick, blush, foundation, face powder, eye shadow eye liner, and mascara--as cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Is it make up artist or makeup artist? ›
A make-up artist, also called a makeup artist, and often shortened to MUA, is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions including all aspects of the modeling industry.
Why do they call makeup makeup? ›
What's the etymological history of the word 'makeup'? It derives from the phrasal verb “to make up” in the sense of “to put together”. It comes from the theater, where actors need to put together their look, including costuming and hair and facial appearance. Eventually it came to refer exclusively to cosmetics.
