Woodgrain

[Former Member]

What do you think? One or two words is the correct spelling, or the spelling that is most widely used . . . Thought? 

[Valkyrie]

I’ve always spelled it as one word. 

[ReaderPaul]

Until today, I have always seen it as "wood grain."

[Former Member]

There are so many problems like these: windowsill or window sill; door jamb or doorjamb. 

[BigBen]

A dictionary is really great at this sort of question.  It's not ultimately about whether one or the other form is right or wrong, so much as it's about being consistent in a given work.

On the other hand, there are cases where the space or its absence affects the meaning:  for example, "work out" versus "workout" and "every day" versus "everyday".  Often, the phrase with the space is a verb phrase, and the single word is a noun.  ("I work out every day, even though I'm not your everyday gym-goer.  My workout usually consists of ...")

Edited October 1, 2022 by BigBen

[CassieQ]

13 hours ago, AC Benus said:

There are so many problems like these: windowsill or window sill; door jamb or doorjamb. 

This reminds me of the day I spent several hours trying to figure out whether the plural of mosquito had an "e" or not.  English is a funny language.  

[Former Member]

15 minutes ago, CassieQ said:

This reminds me of the day I spent several hours trying to figure out whether the plural of mosquito had an "e" or not.  English is a funny language.  

You said it! Or as Shakespeare put it, "English, our glorious mongrel tongue."