Diminishing returns

March 16th, 2009 at 07:00am Barry Wood

After the entry about “nonprofit,” I was asked about “not-for-profit.”

There is no difference in meaning. If you look up “not-for-profit” in Webster’s, you’ll find a one-word definition: “nonprofit.”

According to “Garner’s Modern American Usage,” “nonprofit” is more common but “not-for-profit” is gaining ground. The thought is that the latter is more accurate, because such entities generally DO make profits but then use them for charitable purposes.

It’s a fine distinction, one I’m not sure is worth the extra keystrokes and two hyphens. But at least it’s better than the term Garner says is preferred in British English: “non-profit-making.” I looked that one up online and found all variations, with and without hyphens and even as two words: “nonprofit making.”

I don’t see any real profit in replacing “nonprofit.”

Entry Filed under: word choices, American vs. British English