What is the correct spelling of the term that describes the special photography session people have for major events like weddings, fashion shows and TV commercials? Photo shoot or photoshoot? In other words, is it written as two words or one?
The couple are having a photo shoot tomorrow.
Or
The couple are having a photoshoot tomorrow?
The question takes us back to compounds, which are words or phrases generated by combining two or more distinct/existing ones, with the new elements having unique, singular meanings. Examples are waterfront (from water + front), website, blackboard and windscreen. However, compounds’ structure is not always that straightforward or predictable because while some are written as single words, as we have in the examples just given, others are two. Yet, a good number of them are hyphenated. For instance, as we have school bus, ice cream, native doctor (two words) so also exist X-ray, non-compliance and nitty-gritty:
The schoolbus is green. (Wrong)
The school bus is green. (Correct)
The governor is angry because of their non compliance with the order. (Wrong)
The governor is angry because of their non-compliance with the order. (Wrong)
Unstoppable photoshoot?
Although ‘photo shoot’ is considered better for formal, written English, ‘photoshoot’ is also not wrong, only that it is more acceptable in informal contexts. The compound here is thus peculiar as we have a case of two correct possibilities, with experts noting that photoshoot is not only gaining ground but also has the potential to displace the two-word arrangement in the future. They base their projection on the fact that many compounds emerge as two words, later become hyphenated until they eventually become close (one word).
To buttress the interchangeability of photo shoot and photoshoot, Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford and Longman enter them differently. While Cambridge features the term as a single word, the latter duo present it as two. Our conclusion here, therefore, is that both spellings are correct but it is better you make it two (photo shoot) in formal situations.
Police said the confusion started during the photo shoot. (Correct)
Police said the confusion started during the photo shoot. (Also correct, but more in informal contexts.)
More examples of closed compounds
Waterfall, wildflower, sunflower, boyfriend, farmhouse, schoolteacher, schoolchildren, bookcase, haircut, mailbox, toothpaste, homework, headache, toothache, flower pot, video game web page, hot dog.
Open compounds
Living room, school bus, ice cream, high school, common sense, tennis court, remote control and elder brother.
Hyphenated
Self-control, high-definition, x-ray, over-the-counter, state-of-the-art, free-for-all, nitty-gritty, runner-up, word-of-mouth.
