A gerund is a present participle used as a noun (e.g. making, solving). In a compound formed from a noun plus a gerund, the use of a hyphen depends on how the compound is being used in the sentence.
Used as a noun
When compounds formed from a noun plus a gerund function as nouns, they are not hyphenated.
Some noun-plus-gerund compounds are written as one word:
- housekeeping
- shipbuilding
- sightseeing
- cabinetmaking
Others are written as separate words:
- decision making
- power sharing
- problem solving
- deficit spending
Exception:
- foot-dragging
Used as an adjective
When a noun-plus-gerund compound that is normally written as two separate words is used as an adjective before a noun, it should be hyphenated:
- the decision-making process
- a power-sharing agreement
- problem-solving techniques
- a deficit-spending plan
Copyright notice for Writing Tips Plus
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
A tool created and made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Search by related themes
Want to learn more about a theme discussed on this page? Click on a link below to see all the pages on the Language Portal of Canada that relate to the theme you selected. The search results will be displayed in Language Navigator.
Related links
- Writing Tips Plus (home page)
- Writing tools
- Language Navigator (for fast access to language tips)
- TERMIUM Plus®