Long Term or Long-Term | What’s the Right Choice in Writing?

In the realm of English writing, few quandaries perplex writers quite like the choice between “long term” and “long-term.”

This seemingly minor distinction can significantly impact the clarity and professionalism of your writing. Whether you’re crafting an important email, penning a business proposal, or composing an academic paper, understanding the nuances between these two forms is crucial for effective communication.

The Fundamentals of Long Term vs. Long-Term

At its core, the difference between “long term” and “long-term” lies in their grammatical function. “Long term” serves as a noun phrase, while “long-term” functions as an adjective. This distinction might seem subtle, but it plays a vital role in sentence structure and meaning.

Let’s delve deeper into these usage patterns with some practical examples:

Usage	Example Sentence	Explanation
Long term (noun)	Our focus is on the long term.	Here, “long term” refers to an extended period.
Long-term (adjective)	We need a long-term solution.	“Long-term” describes the type of solution needed.
Long term (adverb)	We’re thinking long term.	Used without a hyphen when following a verb.
Long-term (compound adjective)	The long-term effects are significant.	Hyphenated when preceding a noun it modifies.
Long term (after “in the”)	In the long term, this strategy will pay off.	No hyphen needed in this common phrase.
Long-term (in titles)	“Long-Term Care Insurance: What You Need to Know”	Typically hyphenated in titles and headings.
Long term (in specific fields)	The patient requires long term care.	Some fields may have specific style preferences.
Long-term (with numbers)	We have a 10-year long-term plan.	Hyphenated when part of a larger compound modifier.
Long term (contrasting with short term)	Consider both short term and long term implications.	Often unhyphenated when paired with “short term.”
Long-term (in financial contexts)	Long-term investments typically yield better returns.	Commonly hyphenated in financial writing.

The Impact of Context on Usage

The choice between “long term” and “long-term” often depends on the context of your writing. In formal business communication, for instance, consistency and adherence to style guides are paramount.

Consider this email example:

To: Sarah Johnson From: Michael Chen Subject: Proposal for Long-Term Company Growth Strategy

Dear Sarah,

I hope this email finds you well. I’ve been working on a comprehensive strategy for our company’s growth over an extended period. After careful consideration of both short-term goals and long-term objectives, I believe I have developed a plan that will set us up for success in the distant future.

Our current approach has been effective for immediate gains, but to ensure sustained growth, we need to shift our focus to the long term. I’ve outlined a series of initiatives that, while requiring some upfront investment, promise significant returns over a lengthy duration.

I’ve attached a detailed proposal that includes:

1. A 5-year long-range plan for market expansion
2. Strategies for developing enduring customer relationships
3. Investments in technology for long-term efficiency improvements

I’m confident that this long-term strategy will position us as industry leaders for years to come. I look forward to discussing this proposal with you and the team.

Best regards, Michael

This email demonstrates the appropriate use of both “long term” and “long-term” in a professional context. Notice how “long-term” is used as an adjective to describe specific nouns like “strategy” and “efficiency improvements,” while “long term” is used as a noun phrase when referring to the concept of an extended timeframe.

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The Role of Style Guides

Many organizations rely on style guides to ensure consistency in their written communications. These guides often provide specific instructions on the usage of “long term” and “long-term.” Let’s examine how some popular style guides approach this issue:

Style Guide	Preference for “long term”	Preference for “long-term”	Notes
AP Stylebook	✓	✓	Uses “long term” as a noun, “long-term” as an adjective
Chicago Manual of Style	✓	✓	Similar to AP, but more flexible in certain contexts
APA Style		✓	Prefers hyphenation in most cases
MLA Style	✓	✓	Follows general rules, hyphenates before nouns
New York Times Manual	✓	✓	Aligns closely with AP Stylebook
The Economist Style Guide		✓	Favors hyphenation in most instances
Guardian and Observer Style Guide	✓	✓	Uses both forms depending on context
IBM Style Guide		✓	Recommends consistent use of hyphen
Microsoft Manual of Style		✓	Prefers hyphenation for clarity
Yahoo Style Guide	✓	✓	Follows general grammatical rules

As we can see, while there’s some variation among style guides, the general trend is to use “long-term” as an adjective and “long term” as a noun phrase. However, it’s crucial to consult the specific style guide relevant to your field or organization.

The Evolution of Usage Over Time

Language is not static, and the usage of “long term” versus “long-term” has evolved over the years. This evolution reflects broader trends in English language writing, including a general move towards more hyphenation for clarity.

Let’s examine how the usage has changed over time:

Decade	Prevalent Usage	Trend
1950s	Long term	Predominantly used without hyphen
1960s	Long term	Slight increase in hyphenated form
1970s	Long-term	Growing preference for hyphenation
1980s	Long-term	Hyphenated form becomes standard in many contexts
1990s	Long-term	Continued dominance of hyphenated form
2000s	Mixed usage	Increased flexibility based on context
2010s	Mixed usage	Style guides begin to differentiate based on function
2020s	Context-dependent	Emphasis on clarity and consistency within documents

This shift towards hyphenation aligns with a broader trend in English writing towards clarity and precision. As communication became more global and digital, the need for unambiguous writing increased.

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Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced writers sometimes stumble when it comes to using “long term” and “long-term” correctly. Here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them:

Inconsistency within a document is a frequent issue. Writers might use “long-term” in one paragraph and “long term” in another, even when the usage is identical. To avoid this, it’s crucial to establish a style rule at the beginning of your writing process and stick to it throughout.

Another pitfall is the misuse of “long term” as an adjective without a hyphen. For instance, writing “We need a long term solution” is incorrect. The proper form would be “We need a long-term solution.”

Conversely, using “long-term” as a noun phrase is also a mistake. Saying “In the long-term, we expect to see results” should instead be “In the long term, we expect to see results.”

Let’s look at some examples of correct and incorrect usage:

Incorrect Usage	Correct Usage	Explanation
The long term effects are concerning.	The long-term effects are concerning.	“Long-term” is an adjective here and should be hyphenated.
We’re focusing on long-term.	We’re focusing on the long term.	As a noun phrase, it should be “long term” without a hyphen.
Our long term-strategy is solid.	Our long-term strategy is solid.	The hyphen should connect “long” and “term,” not “term” and “strategy.”
The project is long term.	The project is long-term.	When used as a predicate adjective, it should be hyphenated.
We need to think about the long-term.	We need to think about the long term.	As a noun phrase following “the,” it should not be hyphenated.
The company’s short term and long term goals	The company’s short-term and long-term goals	Both “short-term” and “long-term” are adjectives here and should be hyphenated.
He’s in it for the long-term.	He’s in it for the long term.	Following “the,” it’s a noun phrase and should not be hyphenated.
We offer long term-care services.	We offer long-term care services.	The hyphen should connect “long” and “term,” not “term” and “care.”
Our long term outlook is positive.	Our long-term outlook is positive.	As an adjective modifying “outlook,” it should be hyphenated.
In long term, this approach works best.	In the long term, this approach works best.	The phrase should include “the” and remain unhyphenated.

Industry-Specific Considerations

Different industries and fields of study may have their own conventions when it comes to the use of “long term” and “long-term.” It’s essential to be aware of these nuances, especially when writing for a specific professional audience.

Industry	Preferred Usage	Example
Finance	Long-term	Long-term investments often yield better returns.
Healthcare	Long-term	The patient requires long-term care.
Education	Long term	Educational policies focus on long term outcomes.
Technology	Long-term	We’re developing long-term solutions for data storage.
Environmental Science	Long-term	Climate change has long-term effects on ecosystems.
Psychology	Long-term	Long-term memory plays a crucial role in learning.
Business	Mixed	Our long-term strategy aims for sustained growth in the long term.
Law	Long term	The contract specifies long term obligations.
Government	Long-term	The government announced a long-term economic plan.
Sociology	Long-term	Researchers study the long-term impacts of social policies.

The Impact of Digital Communication

The rise of digital communication has introduced new challenges and considerations in the use of “long term” and “long-term.” In the fast-paced world of social media and instant messaging, brevity often takes precedence over grammatical precision.

Platform	Trend	Example
Twitter	Abbreviated	LT goals vs ST objectives
LinkedIn	Formal, hyphenated	Seeking long-term professional opportunities
Email	Context-dependent	Varies based on formality and industry
SMS/Text	Often unhyphenated	Thinking long term here
Facebook	Casual, mixed usage	Planning for the long term/long-term future
Instagram	Hashtag-friendly	#LongTermGoals
Business Reports	Formal, hyphenated	Analyzing long-term market trends
Academic Papers	Consistently hyphenated	The long-term effects of climate change
Blog Posts	Casual, often unhyphenated	How to stay motivated in the long term
News Articles	AP style (mixed)	Long-term unemployment rates affect long term economic growth

In digital writing, the key is to balance clarity with the conventions of the platform. While a tweet might abbreviate “long-term” to save characters, a LinkedIn post would likely use the full, properly hyphenated form to maintain a professional tone.

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Global Perspectives on Long-Term Usage

English, as a global language, is used in various forms around the world. The usage of “long term” and “long-term” can vary depending on regional preferences and local style guides.

Region	Prevalent Usage	Notable Differences
United States	Mixed, often AP style	“Long-term” as adjective, “long term” as noun
United Kingdom	Tendency towards hyphenation	“Long-term” used more consistently
Canada	Similar to US, with some UK influence	Follows Canadian Press style guide
Australia	Leans towards UK style	Preference for “long-term” in most cases
India	Mixed usage	Influenced by both UK and US styles
Singapore	Tends towards British usage	Preference for hyphenation
European Union (English docs)	Consistent hyphenation	“Long-term” used in official documents
South Africa	Mixed, with British influence	Academic writing tends towards hyphenation
New Zealand	Similar to Australian usage	Prefers “long-term” in formal writing
International Organizations	Consistent hyphenation	UN, WHO prefer “long-term” for clarity

The Role of Editing and Proofreading

Ensuring correct and consistent usage of “long term” and “long-term” often comes down to careful editing and proofreading. Here are some strategies that professional editors employ:

Use of style sheets: Editors create document-specific style sheets that dictate the preferred usage for terms like “long term” and “long-term.” This ensures consistency throughout a piece of writing.

Context-based decisions: When faced with ambiguous cases, editors consider the broader context of the sentence and document to make appropriate choices.

Consistency checks: Many editing software tools now include features that can flag inconsistent usage of terms like “long term” and “long-term” within a document.

Industry awareness: Professional editors stay informed about industry-specific preferences and style guide updates to ensure their edits align with current best practices.

Looking to the Future

As language continues to evolve, so too will the usage of “long term” and “long-term.” Current trends suggest a move towards greater flexibility, with context playing an increasingly important role in determining the appropriate form.

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning are likely to impact how we approach these linguistic choices. AI-powered writing assistants may offer real-time suggestions for the correct usage based on the specific context and intended audience.

Conclusion

The choice between “long term” and “long-term” may seem like a minor detail, but it reflects a writer’s attention to clarity and precision. Whether you’re crafting a business proposal, writing an academic paper, or composing a casual email, understanding the nuances of these terms will enhance your communication.

Remember, the key is consistency within your chosen style and clarity for your readers. When in doubt, consult the appropriate style guide for your field or organization. By mastering the use of “long term” and “long-term,” you’ll demonstrate your commitment to effective, professional communication that stands the test of time.

In the long term, your attention to these details will pay off, contributing to your reputation as a skilled and thoughtful communicator. So, as you embark on your next writing project, take a long-term view of your language choices, and watch how they elevate your work to new heights of clarity and impact.