Which one is correct?
"dinner party" or "dinner-party"?

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dinner party

This is the standard and more commonly used form to refer to a social gathering where people eat dinner together.

Use "dinner party" when referring to a social gathering where guests are invited to have dinner together, such as "I'm hosting a dinner party on Saturday."

Alternatives:

  • dinner gathering
  • dinner event
  • social dinner
  • dinner function
  • dinner reception

dinner-party

This construction is correct when used to describe a compound noun with a hyphen for clarity or emphasis.

Use "dinner-party" when you want to emphasize the compound nature of the noun, such as in "dinner-party etiquette" or "dinner-party invitation."

Examples:

  • dinner-party etiquette
  • dinner-party invitation
  • dinner-party games
  • dinner-party dress code
  • dinner-party planning

Alternatives:

  • dinner party
  • social gathering
  • dinner event
  • dinner gathering
  • dinner function
Both "dinner-party" and "dinner party" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Dinner party" is the more common and standard way to refer to a social gathering where people eat dinner together. On the other hand, "dinner-party" is used when describing a compound noun, where the two words are joined together with a hyphen for clarity or emphasis.

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

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