Fairytale

[Rachel Adams]

Is "fairytale" written separately? I have seen it spelled both ways.

"She thinks she lives in a fairy tale."

 

[Morgan]

NOT A TEACHER and NOT A NATIVE SPEAKER

From Longman Dictionary: https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/fairytale

I think it's written as a single word as an adjective. When it's a noun, you should write it separately or hyphenated.

 

[jutfrank]

I always write it as one word.

 

[emsr2d2]

I always write it as one word.

So have I. However, I've just looked at the cover of a very old anthology of the Brothers Grimm stories, and I see it's called "Grimm's Fairy Tales". Every listing I've just looked at on Google and Amazon uses two words for the noun. You live and learn.

 

[Rachel Adams]

So have I. However, I've just looked at the cover of a very old anthology of the Brothers Grimm stories, and I see it's called "Grimm's Fairy Tales". Every listing I've just looked at on Google and Amazon uses two words for the noun. You live and learn.

Thus in modern English and even in old books it's written separately when used as a noun but together when used as an adjective. I hope I understand correctly.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, but if you happen to write 'fairytale' as a noun, it's not a big deal—you can tell them that you know some native English-speakers who do the same.