why is of course two words

by Miss Cathryn Kessler MD 7 min read

“Of course” is only ever correct as two words. We write it in this way because “of” is a preposition that modifies the noun “course.” We must keep them separated to show that we are making the correct prepositional modification in our writing.

"Of course" is two words. I have never seen it as one except in typos and this question. To be fair, the spelling was deliberate in the question and therefore not technically speaking a typo. ^_^

Full Answer

Is of course one word or two words?

Since “of course” does not modify a noun or verb, we cannot use it as a one-word spelling. It does not need to be grouped in this way because we must treat the preposition separately from the noun. Correct: This is, of course, strictly between us.

What happens when two words are combined into one?

When two words are combined into one for common use, usually they are describing a process or an object of some kind. As the term “of course” is abstract, the individual words are unlikely to become conjoined. , 12 years work as tutor in pre GED classes, math, reading, language, and science.

Why is the word'cooldown two words?

Because its purpose and use requires it to be two words. To use your example of "cooldown," it's actually only one word when used to describe the state of something that is in the process of loosing heat or activity; "I'm doing my cooldown after my run." "My Battlemage's Purgatory spell is in cooldown."

How do you use of course in a sentence?

There are many uses for the expression “of course” in everyday speech. For example, we use it to say “yes” with certainty to requests and some questions. We also use it is to show agreement with or sympathy for a speaker. Most uses are good-natured and polite.

Is it offcourse or of course?

Of course is an informal way of saying 'yes' or to give someone permission to do something. Student: Can I have some extra homework? Me: Of course you can. Off course is used when a vehicle doesn't follow a planned, or intended, route.

Why do we say of course?

So what does 'of course' mean? It means obviously. If something is obvious – easy to see or understand – we can say 'of course'. And that's why we often use 'of course' when we say 'yes' to requests.

Is it right to say of course?

The only honest answer is, of course, yes. You use of course as a polite way of giving permission. 'Can I just say something about the cup game on Saturday?' —'Yes of course you can.

Do you say of course or of cause?

Which one is correct of course or of cause? This has been confusing many students and new English learners. Of Course is a correct phrase.

Is of course one word or two words?

"Of course" is always 2 words, and is a shorter form of "As a matter of course". Furthermore, Google Fight says of course wins at 75 900 000 vs ofcourse which has only 521 000.

When did people start saying of course?

Of course was first used in the sense of a matter of course (one could also say a thing of course), and meant as a natural result, but the earliest citation of the phrase of course “naturally, certainly,” as we all know it, is amazingly late (1823).

Why do we say of course after thank you?

When you respond with “of course,” you are saying that the help that you gave was to be expected. People say “my pleasure” when they want you to know that it made them feel good to help you… almost like it was not work. You hear this often from someone providing you service in retail, or in restaurants.

Is of course informal?

b) (also course informal) spoken used to say yes or to give permission politely 'Can I have a word with you? ' 'Of course. ' 'Can you give me a lift? ' 'Course, no problem.

How do you say anyway politely?

Part of speech:regardless. ... nevertheless. ... anyhow (related) ... in-any-case. used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement. ... at-any-rate. used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement. ... after-all (related) ... in any manner. ... in-any-event.More items...

What is short for of course?

OC. (redirected from of course)

How do you spell not of course?

—used informally to say no in a way that shows one is very definite "Are you angry with me for being late?" "Of course not!""Did you take the money?" "Of course not!"

What does it mean when a guy says of course?

A1 informal. used to say yes or to give someone permission to do something: "Can you help me?" "Of course."

Can you reply to thank you with of course?

You are being extremely gracious and kind. Of course! When you respond with “of course,” you are saying that the help that you gave was to be expected. People say “my pleasure” when they want you to know that it made them feel good to help you…

What is off course mean?

The definition of off course is someone or something that is lost or confused. An example of off course is a mountain lion wandering around a shopping area. An example of off course is someone driving around in circles. adjective.

What is another way to say of course?

assuredlyabsolutely.certainly.definitely.of course.positively.surely.undoubtedly.unquestionably.More items...

Ofcourse vs. of Course

  • “Of course” is only ever correct as two words. We write it in this way because “of” is a preposition that modifies the noun “course.” We must keep them separated to show that we are making the correct prepositional modification in our writing. According to Google Ngram Viewer, “of course” is by far the most popular choice of the two. This clearly s...
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Is “Ofcourse” One Word?

  • “Ofcourse” is incorrect. We simply cannot group the words in this way when we want to show we agree with something. Some people think it works informally because of the text abbreviation “ofc,” but this does not apply in standard English. To make sure we get it correct, we can refer to the AP Stylebook. The rules inside the AP Style guidelines teach us that we should only group w…
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Is “Of Course” Two Words?

  • “Of course” is two words. There is no other way to spell it. It’s a common phrase in English, and we must keep the preposition separate from the noun form. As long as we remember to do this, we will always be able to write it in a grammatically correct format. There are no rules that work inEnglish that allow us to group “of course.” It cannot be hyphenated, and it cannot be one word. …
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Tip to Remember The Difference

  • Finally, it’s time to check out a quick tip. If you can remember this tip whenever you write about “of course,” you’ll never get it wrong again. “Of” is a designated preposition. We use it when it’s linked to a name or entity. With the phrase “of course,” we can treat “course” as the name in the phrase. It’s always appropriate to write “of course” with a space to make sure we are using the prepositi…
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