Is It On-site or Onsite? (Correct Grammar + Examples)

Is it onsite or on-site? Compound words can be confusing to comprehend. When a word is connected by a hyphen, it is called a hyphenated compound. These are words like long-term, brother-in-law, and mother-in-law. Compound words can also get written as a closed compound (joined to form a single word), these are words like doorknob, mailbox, afterthought, and highway.

Learn which word form is correct in this short guide…

Why is there confusion between the words onsite or on-site?

This word is commonly used in business settings. When writing business language or professional letters, it’s not uncommon to want to use the correct word forms to prevent embarrassment or situations where a lack of professionalism can occur.

These two word forms look identical and are only separated by a hyphen. Causing them to get confused and a question to arise, “Which word is grammatically correct in the English language?”

Onsite definition

Let’s take a look at the definition of the word “onsite.”

Which is correct? Is it onsite or on-site?

While both forms of the word are technically correct, let’s look at how each dictionary and style guide refers to the use of the word.

Key differences

Technically, there is no key difference between the words on-site and onsite. It is a matter of style, taste, and choice. Both are grammatically correct in the English language and can get used interchangeably.

• Correct use: I went onsite in order to help solve some of the IT problems with the system.
• Correct use: I went onsite in order to help solve some of the IT problems with the system.

Onsite sentence examples

Below are sentence examples using the word onsite:

• We are going to make a plan to visit onsite in the next few weeks.
• Our team is deciding whether we’d like to visit onsite or do this remotely.
• We need to take precautions when visiting onsite and make sure that we accommodate everyone’s needs.
• It would be easier if we could see what’s happening onsite rather than remotely.

On-site sentence examples

Below are sentence examples using the word on-site:

• I want to go on-site to see if I can troubleshoot what’s happening.
• Our team needs to visit them on-site to pitch the proposal.
• They’d like to us to make a visit on-site to meet with the team.
• We can go on-site in order to connect with them if we need to.

How to remember which word form to use

The answer to this is simple, it’s your choice. Both word forms (either with or without a hyphen) are technically correct. And can get used interchangeably.

And while that is true, the recommendation is to use on-site, because is used by the Oxford Dictionary, Chicago Manual of Style, and suggested in AP Style.

Common questions

Questions and answers about the English language.

Is onsite one word?

Yes. The word “onsite” is one word and not two. The incorrect form and spelling would be “on site.”

Is onsite hyphenated?

The word onsite or on-site can either be hyphenated or not hyphenated. Technically, it is a choice of style rather than grammatically correct spelling.