How to tell time

March 26th, 2009 at 07:00am Barry Wood

These are (some of) the times that try my soul. I’m talking about “-time” words.

Most of them should be written as one word, not two or hyphenated.

It’s “springtime”; before long it will be “summertime”; and all too soon it will be “wintertime” again. However, there’s no “falltime” or “autumntime,” which is actually my favorite time.

We also have “daytime” and “nighttime”; “downtime” and “uptime”; “lunchtime,” “dinnertime” and “mealtime”; “Christmastime”; even “crunchtime” and “showtime.”

However, “leisure time” is two words — that’s time for a break.

Entry Filed under: one word or two?