Two in One

Have you ever had difficulties using different forms of the same word? For example, do you know the context for using setup and set up?

Consider the following sentences:

The Administrator setup/set up the machine.

Take a back up/ backup of the system files.

Give me your login/log in details.

Is there a difference between the two forms in each sentence? Do they mean the same? Can they be used interchangeably?

Read on….

In each of the sentences, the form with two words is called a Phrasal Verb; the other form, with one word, is a Closed Compound.
Phrasal Verbs

A Phrasal Verb is a combination of a Verb and a Preposition or an Adverb, resulting in a meaning different from that of the original Verb.

Verb + Preposition or Adverb = Phrasal Verb

Note the difference in the meanings of the Verbs and the Phrasal Verbs in these examples:

Give + Up = Give Up

Look + After = Look After

Back + Up = Back Up

Phrasal Verbs differ from the original Verbs only in their meaning; however, Phrasal Verbs retain all Verb characteristics. That is, a Phrasal Verb must be used to denote an action.

Let us now analyze the second form, Closed Compound.

Word Compounding

A Compound Word is a combination of two or more words referring to the same entity (or representing a common idea). Compound words are generally used as Nouns or Adjectives.

Types of Compounds

Compound words are of the following types:

Open Compound: If the words in a compound are separated by spaces, the combination is called an Open Compound.
Examples: dry ice, conveyer belt

Hyphenated Compound: If the words in a compound are separated by hyphens, the combination is called a Hyphenated Compound.
Examples: hang-out, run-in

Closed Compound: If the words in a compound are not separated form each other (or one another), the combination is called a Closed Compound.

Examples: mailbox, postman

Conclusion

Phrasal Verbs and Closed Compounds should not be used interchangeably.

You must use a Phrasal Verb to indicate an action.
The Administrator set up (not setup) the machine.

You must use a Closed Compound as a Noun or an Adjective, not as a Verb. Give me your login (not log in) details.

Food for Thought

Consider the following words and try to analyse them in terms of compounds and phrasal verbs (v = verb; n = noun; a = adjective):

Upload (v., n.), download (v., n.)

Hookup (v., n.) / hook up (v.); off hook (a.)

Uplink (v., n.), downlink (v., n.)

Upbeat, beat-up, beat up (a., a., v.)

Up-to-date (a.), outdated/dated (a.), update (n., v.)

Mark up (v.), markup (n., a.)

Upmarket (a.)

Upstart, start-up - startup? Start up (n., n., v.)

Cold start (n.? v. ?) Get started (v. + a or v.+ v.?)

Comeuppance (is there a preposition here?)

Lookup (n.), lookup/look up (v.)

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Gururaj BS is a Technical Publications Manager at Sun Microsystems, Bangalore.

Prabath N.R. is a Technical Writer at Aztec Software, Bangalore.

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