Land cover, land-cover, or landcover?












1














In literature, I often see landcover, land cover, and even land-cover. Land cover seems slightly more prevalent than the others. Which is correct?



Land cover is the material covering the Earth's surface: grass, trees, concrete, etc. Here's the Wikipedia definition.



I typically use it in the context of:




The land cover dataset…



90% of land cover classes were…







punctuation hyphenation compounds open-vs-closed-vs-hyhenated







share|improve this question




















  • 1




    There are no hard and fast rules that determine how compounds, especially less common ones, are written (open, hyphenated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and slow ones. Write it however you think looks best—as long as you're consistent. As you say, open compounds are most common; but land(-)cover is short and simple enough to work just fine any which way.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Mar 13 '14 at 8:13
















1














In literature, I often see landcover, land cover, and even land-cover. Land cover seems slightly more prevalent than the others. Which is correct?



Land cover is the material covering the Earth's surface: grass, trees, concrete, etc. Here's the Wikipedia definition.



I typically use it in the context of:




The land cover dataset…



90% of land cover classes were…







punctuation hyphenation compounds open-vs-closed-vs-hyhenated







share|improve this question




















  • 1




    There are no hard and fast rules that determine how compounds, especially less common ones, are written (open, hyphenated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and slow ones. Write it however you think looks best—as long as you're consistent. As you say, open compounds are most common; but land(-)cover is short and simple enough to work just fine any which way.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Mar 13 '14 at 8:13














1












1








1







In literature, I often see landcover, land cover, and even land-cover. Land cover seems slightly more prevalent than the others. Which is correct?



Land cover is the material covering the Earth's surface: grass, trees, concrete, etc. Here's the Wikipedia definition.



I typically use it in the context of:




The land cover dataset…



90% of land cover classes were…







punctuation hyphenation compounds open-vs-closed-vs-hyhenated







share|improve this question















In literature, I often see landcover, land cover, and even land-cover. Land cover seems slightly more prevalent than the others. Which is correct?



Land cover is the material covering the Earth's surface: grass, trees, concrete, etc. Here's the Wikipedia definition.



I typically use it in the context of:




The land cover dataset…



90% of land cover classes were…







punctuation hyphenation compounds open-vs-closed-vs-hyhenated




punctuation hyphenation compounds open-vs-closed-vs-hyhenated






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 17 hours ago









tchrist♦

108k28290463




108k28290463










asked Mar 13 '14 at 2:35









SoilSciGuy

12717




12717








  • 1




    There are no hard and fast rules that determine how compounds, especially less common ones, are written (open, hyphenated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and slow ones. Write it however you think looks best—as long as you're consistent. As you say, open compounds are most common; but land(-)cover is short and simple enough to work just fine any which way.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Mar 13 '14 at 8:13














  • 1




    There are no hard and fast rules that determine how compounds, especially less common ones, are written (open, hyphenated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and slow ones. Write it however you think looks best—as long as you're consistent. As you say, open compounds are most common; but land(-)cover is short and simple enough to work just fine any which way.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Mar 13 '14 at 8:13








1




1




There are no hard and fast rules that determine how compounds, especially less common ones, are written (open, hyphenated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and slow ones. Write it however you think looks best—as long as you're consistent. As you say, open compounds are most common; but land(-)cover is short and simple enough to work just fine any which way.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Mar 13 '14 at 8:13




There are no hard and fast rules that determine how compounds, especially less common ones, are written (open, hyphenated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and slow ones. Write it however you think looks best—as long as you're consistent. As you say, open compounds are most common; but land(-)cover is short and simple enough to work just fine any which way.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Mar 13 '14 at 8:13










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2














Land cover (written as an open compound) does appear more frequently. See the link below for the frequency of each form. If the compound is not permanent i.e. common enough that it has been accepted in a particular form and appears in dictionaries, I suggest you follow convention.



https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=landcover%2Cland+cover%2Cland-cover&year_start=1920&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Clandcover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20cover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20-%20cover%3B%2Cc0



This link below contains useful information regarding compounds. In particular, see the sections titled "Compounds in the Dictionary" and "The Compound-styling Conundrum."



http://www.merriam-webster.com/help/faq/compound.htm






share|improve this answer





























    1














    A long time ago in a com­ment far, far away, Janus Bahs Jac­quet wrote:




    There are no hard and fast rules that de­ter­mine how com­pounds,
    es­pe­cially less com­mon ones, are writ­ten (open,
    hy­phen­ated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and
    slow ones. Write it how­ever you think looks best—as long as you’re
    con­sis­tent. As you say, open com­pounds are most com­mon; but
    land(-)cover is short and sim­ple enough to work just fine any
    which way.







    share|improve this answer





















      Your Answer








      StackExchange.ready(function() {
      var channelOptions = {
      tags: "".split(" "),
      id: "97"
      };
      initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

      StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
      // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
      if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
      StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
      createEditor();
      });
      }
      else {
      createEditor();
      }
      });

      function createEditor() {
      StackExchange.prepareEditor({
      heartbeatType: 'answer',
      autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
      convertImagesToLinks: false,
      noModals: true,
      showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
      reputationToPostImages: null,
      bindNavPrevention: true,
      postfix: "",
      imageUploader: {
      brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
      contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
      allowUrls: true
      },
      noCode: true, onDemand: true,
      discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
      ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
      });


      }
      });














      draft saved

      draft discarded


















      StackExchange.ready(
      function () {
      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f157127%2fland-cover-land-cover-or-landcover%23new-answer', 'question_page');
      }
      );

      Post as a guest















      Required, but never shown

























      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      2














      Land cover (written as an open compound) does appear more frequently. See the link below for the frequency of each form. If the compound is not permanent i.e. common enough that it has been accepted in a particular form and appears in dictionaries, I suggest you follow convention.



      https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=landcover%2Cland+cover%2Cland-cover&year_start=1920&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Clandcover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20cover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20-%20cover%3B%2Cc0



      This link below contains useful information regarding compounds. In particular, see the sections titled "Compounds in the Dictionary" and "The Compound-styling Conundrum."



      http://www.merriam-webster.com/help/faq/compound.htm






      share|improve this answer


























        2














        Land cover (written as an open compound) does appear more frequently. See the link below for the frequency of each form. If the compound is not permanent i.e. common enough that it has been accepted in a particular form and appears in dictionaries, I suggest you follow convention.



        https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=landcover%2Cland+cover%2Cland-cover&year_start=1920&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Clandcover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20cover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20-%20cover%3B%2Cc0



        This link below contains useful information regarding compounds. In particular, see the sections titled "Compounds in the Dictionary" and "The Compound-styling Conundrum."



        http://www.merriam-webster.com/help/faq/compound.htm






        share|improve this answer
























          2












          2








          2






          Land cover (written as an open compound) does appear more frequently. See the link below for the frequency of each form. If the compound is not permanent i.e. common enough that it has been accepted in a particular form and appears in dictionaries, I suggest you follow convention.



          https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=landcover%2Cland+cover%2Cland-cover&year_start=1920&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Clandcover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20cover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20-%20cover%3B%2Cc0



          This link below contains useful information regarding compounds. In particular, see the sections titled "Compounds in the Dictionary" and "The Compound-styling Conundrum."



          http://www.merriam-webster.com/help/faq/compound.htm






          share|improve this answer












          Land cover (written as an open compound) does appear more frequently. See the link below for the frequency of each form. If the compound is not permanent i.e. common enough that it has been accepted in a particular form and appears in dictionaries, I suggest you follow convention.



          https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=landcover%2Cland+cover%2Cland-cover&year_start=1920&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Clandcover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20cover%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cland%20-%20cover%3B%2Cc0



          This link below contains useful information regarding compounds. In particular, see the sections titled "Compounds in the Dictionary" and "The Compound-styling Conundrum."



          http://www.merriam-webster.com/help/faq/compound.htm







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Mar 13 '14 at 3:31









          roseni01

          1414




          1414

























              1














              A long time ago in a com­ment far, far away, Janus Bahs Jac­quet wrote:




              There are no hard and fast rules that de­ter­mine how com­pounds,
              es­pe­cially less com­mon ones, are writ­ten (open,
              hy­phen­ated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and
              slow ones. Write it how­ever you think looks best—as long as you’re
              con­sis­tent. As you say, open com­pounds are most com­mon; but
              land(-)cover is short and sim­ple enough to work just fine any
              which way.







              share|improve this answer


























                1














                A long time ago in a com­ment far, far away, Janus Bahs Jac­quet wrote:




                There are no hard and fast rules that de­ter­mine how com­pounds,
                es­pe­cially less com­mon ones, are writ­ten (open,
                hy­phen­ated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and
                slow ones. Write it how­ever you think looks best—as long as you’re
                con­sis­tent. As you say, open com­pounds are most com­mon; but
                land(-)cover is short and sim­ple enough to work just fine any
                which way.







                share|improve this answer
























                  1












                  1








                  1






                  A long time ago in a com­ment far, far away, Janus Bahs Jac­quet wrote:




                  There are no hard and fast rules that de­ter­mine how com­pounds,
                  es­pe­cially less com­mon ones, are writ­ten (open,
                  hy­phen­ated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and
                  slow ones. Write it how­ever you think looks best—as long as you’re
                  con­sis­tent. As you say, open com­pounds are most com­mon; but
                  land(-)cover is short and sim­ple enough to work just fine any
                  which way.







                  share|improve this answer












                  A long time ago in a com­ment far, far away, Janus Bahs Jac­quet wrote:




                  There are no hard and fast rules that de­ter­mine how com­pounds,
                  es­pe­cially less com­mon ones, are writ­ten (open,
                  hy­phen­ated, closed) in English. There are barely even soft and
                  slow ones. Write it how­ever you think looks best—as long as you’re
                  con­sis­tent. As you say, open com­pounds are most com­mon; but
                  land(-)cover is short and sim­ple enough to work just fine any
                  which way.








                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 18 hours ago









                  tchrist♦

                  108k28290463




                  108k28290463






























                      draft saved

                      draft discarded




















































                      Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid …



                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





                      Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


                      Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid …



                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                      draft saved


                      draft discarded














                      StackExchange.ready(
                      function () {
                      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f157127%2fland-cover-land-cover-or-landcover%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                      }
                      );

                      Post as a guest















                      Required, but never shown





















































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown

































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown







                      -

                      Popular posts from this blog

                      Morgemoulin

                      Image
                      Morgemoulin — miejscowość i gmina — Państwo   Francja Region Grand Est Departament Moza Okręg Verdun Kod INSEE 55357 Powierzchnia 6,82 km² Populacja  (1990) • liczba ludności 75 • gęstość 11 os./km² Kod pocztowy 55400 Położenie na mapie Francji Morgemoulin 49°14′N   5°35′E / 49,233333   5,583333 Portal Francja Morgemoulin – miejscowość i gmina we Francji, w regionie Grand Est, w departamencie Moza. Według danych na rok 1990 gminę zamieszkiwało 75 osób, a gęstość zaludnienia wynosiła 11 osób/km² (wśród 2335 gmin Lotaryngii Morgemoulin plasuje się na 970. miejscu pod względem liczby ludności, natomiast pod względem powierzchni na miejscu 848.). Bibliografia | Francuski urząd statystyczny ( fr. ) . p   •   d   •   e Gminy okręgu Verdun Abaucourt-Hautecourt • Aincreville • Ambly-sur-Meuse • Amel-sur-l'Étang • Ancemont • Arrancy-sur-Crusne • Aubréville • Autré...
                      Read more

                      Scott Moir

                      Image
                      Scott Moir Tessa Virtue i Scott Moir w 2016 r. Reprezentacja   Kanada Data i miejsce urodzenia 2 września 1987 London Wzrost 180 cm Konkurencja Pary taneczne Partner sportowy Tessa Virtue Trener Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer Poprzednio: Marina Zujewa, Oleg Epstein, Igor Szpilband, Johnny Johns, Carol Moir, Paul MacIntosh, Suzanne Killing Klub Montreal International School of Skating Poprzednio: Arctic Edge FSC Ilderton Skating Club Lokalizacja treningowa Montreal Poprzednio: Canton Kitchener Rekordy życiowe ISU przed sezonem 2018/2019 Nota łączna 206,07 Igrzyska Olimpijskie 2018 Taniec krótki 83,67 Igrzyska Olimpijskie 2018 Taniec dowolny 122,40 Igrzyska Olimpijskie 2018 Dorobek medalowy Reprezentacja   Kanada Igrzyska olimpijskie Złoto Vancouver 2010 pary taneczne Złoto Pjongczang 2018 pary taneczne Złoto Pjongczang 2018 drużynowo Srebro S...
                      Read more

                      Souastre

                      Image
                      Souastre — miejscowość i gmina — Herb Państwo   Francja Region Hauts-de-France Departament Pas-de-Calais Okręg Arras Kod INSEE 62800 Powierzchnia 7,18 km² Populacja  (1990) • liczba ludności 352 • gęstość 49 os./km² Kod pocztowy 62111 Położenie na mapie Francji Souastre 50°09′N   2°34′E / 50,150000   2,566667 Portal Francja Souastre – miejscowość i gmina we Francji, w regionie Hauts-de-France, w departamencie Pas-de-Calais. Według danych na rok 1990 gminę zamieszkiwały 352 osoby, a gęstość zaludnienia wynosiła 49 osób/km² (wśród 1549 gmin regionu Nord-Pas-de-Calais Souastre plasuje się na 887. miejscu pod względem liczby ludności, natomiast pod względem powierzchni na miejscu 507.). Bibliografia | Francuski urząd statystyczny ( fr. ) . p   •   d   •   e Gminy okręgu Arras Ablain-Saint-Nazaire Ablainzevelle Acheville Achicourt Achiet-le-Grand Achiet-le-Pe...
                      Read more