LongTerm vs Long-Term: What’s the Right Choice in Writing?

When it comes to writing, especially in professional or formal contexts, it’s crucial to be precise. One of the commonly debated questions in writing is whether the phrase “long term” should be hyphenated or left as two separate words: long term vs. long-term. While this might seem like a minor detail, it can make a significant difference in how your writing is perceived. But don’t worry! We’ll walk through all the nuances, answer common questions, and provide scenarios to make the right choice clear.

The Basics: Long Term vs. Long-Term

At its core, long-term is an adjective, and long term is a noun. The hyphenation rule comes into play depending on the function the phrase has in a sentence. Let’s break this down for better clarity.

• Long-term: Hyphenated when used as an adjective before a noun. It helps to clarify that two words are functioning together as one idea.
  • Example: “The long-term benefits of exercise are undeniable.”
• Long term: Not hyphenated when it is used as a noun.
  • Example: “In the long term, we plan to expand our operations.”

Let’s dive deeper into specific scenarios to explore this distinction.

1. Is “Long Term” Hyphenated?

Yes, when long term is used as an adjective, you should use a hyphen. This is to connect both words, ensuring they work together as a single descriptor for the noun that follows.

• Correct: “I am looking for a long-term solution.”
• Incorrect: “I am looking for a long term solution.”

2. When Should “Long-Term” Not Be Hyphenated?

When long term is used as a noun, no hyphen is needed. This applies to instances where it functions as a subject or object in a sentence.

• Correct: “In the long term, the company will benefit from the new policy.”
• Incorrect: “In the long-term, the company will benefit from the new policy.”

3. Example in a Professional Email:

Let’s say you are drafting an email to a colleague about setting up a strategic plan for a project. Here’s how the hyphenation rule applies in context:

Subject: Long-Term Strategy Meeting

Dear Jessica,

I hope you’re doing well. As we discussed last week, we need to start planning for the long-term goals of our upcoming project. To make sure we’re on track, I suggest that we meet next week to brainstorm ideas. This way, we can ensure that we’re prioritizing the long-term impact, not just short-term wins.

Let me know what your schedule looks like for next week.

Best regards,
Mark

Notice how “long-term” was used when describing goals and impact, both of which are nouns, and thus, it’s hyphenated. However, the phrase “long term” was used in the context of the overall concept of the strategy, which doesn’t require hyphenation.

4. Should “Long Term” Be Hyphenated in Different Styles?

Writing style guides, such as AP Style or Chicago Manual of Style, offer guidelines on how to treat these hyphenation questions. For example:

• AP Style: Typically uses a hyphen when the phrase is used as an adjective (i.e., long-term impact).
• Chicago Style: Follows a similar rule and advises hyphenation when the phrase modifies a noun.

So whether you’re writing a formal business proposal or an academic paper, the hyphenation should follow the adjective/noun distinction.

5. “Long-Term” in Relationships: Is It Hyphenated?

When talking about relationships, particularly long-term relationships, hyphenation can clarify that you’re talking about the duration of the relationship.

• Correct: “They are in a long-term relationship.”
• Incorrect: “They are in a long term relationship.”

The hyphen helps convey the idea that it is a relationship with sustained duration.

6. “Long-Term” in Healthcare: Is It Hyphenated?

When referring to care, especially in the medical field, the hyphen ensures that the phrase is understood as a unified concept.

• Correct: “She’s been receiving long-term care for her illness.”
• Incorrect: “She’s been receiving long term care for her illness.”

Again, using the hyphen indicates that the care is ongoing and not just a passing phase.

7. Alternative Expressions to “Long-Term”

While long-term is the most commonly used term, there are several synonyms that can also be used, depending on the context:

• Extended period
• Prolonged duration
• Enduring
• Sustained
• Continuous

However, even in these cases, be careful to ensure that they fit the context of what you are describing.

8. “Long-Term Goals” and Hyphenation

“Long-term goals” is one of the most common instances of this debate. Goals are clearly a noun, but the phrase itself is an adjective modifying the noun “goals,” which means a hyphen is needed.

• Correct: “We need to establish clear long-term goals.”
• Incorrect: “We need to establish clear long term goals.”

9. “Longer Term” vs. “Long-Term”

The phrase longer term is a bit of a trickier case. While longer term might seem to follow the same rules, it is often used differently.

• Correct: “In the longer term, we might need to reevaluate our approach.”
• Incorrect: “In the longer-term, we might need to reevaluate our approach.”

Here, “longer term” is a noun phrase, so no hyphen is necessary.

10. Long-Term Adverb Usage

Occasionally, long-term is used as an adverb, though less commonly. When it is used this way, it still follows the same rules of hyphenation because it’s acting as an adjective modifying a noun.

• Correct: “The plan worked long-term.”
• Incorrect: “The plan worked long term.”

20 Points on Using “Long Term” vs. “Long-Term”:

1. Use “long-term” with a hyphen when it’s an adjective.
2. Do not hyphenate “long term” when used as a noun.
3. The adjective form often describes a duration or period.
4. “Long-term goals” is always hyphenated.
5. “Long-term strategy” should be hyphenated when describing plans.
6. “Long term” without a hyphen is correct in contexts like “In the long term”.
7. Always hyphenate “long-term care”.
8. The phrase “long-term investment” should be hyphenated.
9. In professional writing, hyphenate when describing concepts with prolonged durations.
10. Use “long term” without a hyphen when speaking in general terms like “long term consequences”.
11. Be careful with “longer term”—no hyphen is used in this case.
12. In business emails, maintain consistency with “long-term” when describing future plans.
13. Follow style guides (e.g., AP, Chicago) for consistency across your writing.
14. In scientific writing, hyphenation is often used when describing research periods.
15. “Long-term goals” often refer to strategic visions or milestones.
16. Avoid over-hyphenating—use only when needed to clarify meaning.
17. “Long-term effect” means a sustained impact over time.
18. Always double-check if the phrase modifies a noun—it likely needs a hyphen.
19. “Long-term project” is an example of a hyphenated adjective.
20. When in doubt, consult a grammar checker (e.g., Grammarly) to confirm the correct usage.

Conclusion: Long Term or Long-Term?

The difference between long term and long-term ultimately boils down to whether you’re using the phrase as a noun or an adjective. Long-term should be hyphenated when it’s describing something, like a goal or plan. When referring to a duration or period, use long term without the hyphen.

By paying attention to these rules, you’ll keep your writing clean, professional, and easy to understand—ensuring your audience gets the message without confusion.