"Can someone share what they use to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>backup</em></span> their files?"

This was the subject line in an email to a Listserv I am on. In this case, the person wrote backup (one word), which is an adjective, when he meant to say back up (two words), which is a verb.

There are several things about English that seem to trip up a lot of people. This is one of those things.

It happens when you have two words that are often used as a pair and you put them together in one word. However, the new word is not the same as the two-word pair. In some cases the two-word pair is a verb and the resulting new word is an adjective. In some cases the resulting word is a noun.

<strong>Back up is not the same as backup.</strong>

When back up is two words, there's some sort of action taking place ,which means it's a verb. You put your car in reverse gear so you can <em>back up</em> (verb) out of your driveway. Maybe you <em>back up</em> (verb) your files on an external hard drive (I don't but I should). You <em>back up </em>(verb) your claims with proven information (although some presidential candidates don't).

When backup is one word, it can be adjective, meaning the word is modifying or describing something. You may have a <em>backup </em>computer in case your usual computer conks out. You may have a <em>backup plan</em> in case something goes wrong. Sometimes, a backup is a noun:  You may have your<em> backup</em> with you on a thumb drive.

<strong>Shut down is not the same as shutdown.</strong>

At the end of your work day, perhaps you <em>shut down</em> (verb) your computer. Now your computer is in <em>shutdown </em>(adjective) mode.

This past Wednesday here in the Washington area, the Metro was <em>shut down</em> (verb) for more than 24 hours to conduct emergency inspections and repairs.  Metro's general manager said the <em>shutdown</em> (noun) was necessary.

<strong>Every day is not the same as everyday.</strong>

<em>Every day (noun)</em> that passes I think about some <em>everyday</em> (adjective) tasks that can get done quickly.

<span style="color: #ff0000;">Just some everyday information to pass on to you. Happy Friday!</span>

P.S. If you get tripped up with this type of thing in your documents, I can help fix it. Contact me about copy editing.