Goodmorning or Good Morning? I Found the Definitive Answer
My Quick Answer
After thorough research, I can confirm the correct spelling is good morning (two separate words).
Goodmorning as one word is definitely incorrect.
Why I Found It's Always "Good Morning" (Two Words)
I noticed many people confuse this, especially since "goodnight" can be one word. But I discovered that good morning follows different rules. Here's what I learned:
The Grammar Rule I Discovered
The phrase "good morning" consists of two distinct words:
- Good = An adjective
- Morning = A noun
In standard English, when an adjective modifies a noun in a greeting or time-of-day phrase, they remain separate words. This is why we write "good afternoon," "good evening," and "good morning" as two words.
I found it fascinating that unlike "goodnight" (which evolved into a single-word compound), "good morning" has never become one word in standard English. It's always been and always will be two separate words.
My Comparison: Good Morning vs Goodnight
| Phrase | Correct Form | One Word Acceptable? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Two words (good morning) | ❌ Never | "Good morning, Sarah!" |
| Good night | Two words (good night) | ✓ Sometimes | "Goodnight, Mom" (farewell) |
| Good afternoon | Two words (good afternoon) | ❌ Never | "Good afternoon, team!" |
| Good evening | Two words (good evening) | ❌ Never | "Good evening, guests!" |
Why Goodnight Is Different
I learned that "goodnight" evolved into a single word when used as a farewell or adjective (like "goodnight kiss"). However, "good morning" never went through this linguistic evolution. It remains strictly two words in all contexts - greetings, descriptions, or any other use.
Capitalization Rules I Found
I discovered that capitalization depends on how you're using "good morning". Here are the rules I follow:
1. In Email/Message Greetings
✓ Capitalize both words:
"Good Morning, John."
"Good Morning, everyone."
I found this is the most common practice in professional emails and messages.
2. In Regular Sentences
✓ Use standard sentence capitalization:
"I said good morning to my neighbor."
"We had a good morning working together."
When it's not a greeting, only capitalize at the start of a sentence.
3. As a Standalone Greeting
✓ Both options acceptable:
"Good morning!" (formal)
"good morning!" (casual/text messages)
I found context dictates the formality level.
Comma Usage I Learned
The Comma Rule Before Names
I discovered that when you're addressing someone directly after "good morning," you should use a comma before their name. This is grammatically precise and makes your writing clearer.
Correct Examples I Found:
- ✓ "Good morning, Adam."
- ✓ "Good morning, Ms. Johnson."
- ✓ "Good morning, everyone."
- ✓ "Good morning, team!"
Why the Comma Matters
I found that the comma serves a grammatical purpose: it separates the greeting from the person or group being addressed. This is called a vocative comma, and it's an important part of clear, professional writing.
Informal Usage Note
I noticed that in very informal contexts (like quick text messages to friends), people sometimes skip the comma: "Good morning Adam." While common in casual communication, I learned this isn't grammatically correct for formal or professional writing.
Common Mistakes I Found
Mistake #1: Writing "Goodmorning" as One Word
I found this is the most common error. Remember: good morning is always two words. Unlike "goodnight," there is no context where "goodmorning" as one word is acceptable in standard English.
Mistake #2: Confusing It with Goodnight
I discovered people often get confused because "goodnight" can be one word. But "good morning" follows completely different rules. Always use two words for "good morning," regardless of how you might use "goodnight."
Mistake #3: Inconsistent Capitalization
I found that inconsistency is a common issue. If you're writing "Good Morning" in one place, be consistent throughout your document. Don't switch between "Good morning" and "good morning" arbitrarily - context should guide your choice.
Mistake #4: Missing the Comma Before Names
I learned that omitting the comma before someone's name is a frequent oversight. In formal writing, always include it: "Good morning, Sarah" not "Good morning Sarah."
Usage Examples I Collected
As a Greeting:
Formal:
- "Good morning, Mr. Smith. How are you today?"
- "Good morning, everyone. Let's begin our meeting."
Informal:
- "Good morning!" (cheerful greeting to anyone)
- "Morning!" (casual short form)
As a Noun Phrase in Sentences:
- "We had a productive good morning working on the project."
- "She wished me a warm good morning before leaving."
- "The sunrise made for a beautiful good morning."
Describing Actions:
- "I always say good morning to my neighbors."
- "He didn't even acknowledge my good morning greeting."
- "They exchanged good mornings before starting work."
Similar Time-of-Day Greetings
I found that English has several time-of-day greetings, and they all follow similar patterns:
| Time of Day | Correct Form | When Used | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Two words | Until noon | "Good morning, team!" |
| Afternoon | Two words | 12 PM - 6 PM | "Good afternoon, sir." |
| Evening | Two words | 6 PM - bedtime | "Good evening, guests." |
| Night | Two words usually | Bedtime/parting | "Have a good night!" |
I noticed that all of these remain two words except for "goodnight," which can be one word when used as a farewell. This is a unique feature of "goodnight" that doesn't apply to "good morning" or the others.
My Quick Reference Guide
✅ CORRECT:
- "Good morning" - always two words
- "Good Morning, John" - with comma before name
- "I said good morning" - lowercase in sentence
- "Good Morning!" - capitalized as greeting
❌ INCORRECT:
- "Goodmorning" - never one word!
- "Good Morning John" - missing comma before name
Memory Trick I Use:
I remember it like this: "Good" modifies "morning" - they're separate words that work together. Unlike "goodnight" which became a compound word, "good morning" stayed as two distinct words. Think of it like "good afternoon" or "good evening" - always two words!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it goodmorning or good morning?
I found that the correct spelling is "good morning" as two separate words. "Goodmorning" as one word is incorrect in standard English. The phrase consists of an adjective (good) modifying a noun (morning), which should always be written as two separate words according to all major dictionaries and style guides.
Why is good morning two words but goodnight is one word?
I discovered that "good night" can be either two words ("Have a good night") or one word ("Goodnight, Mom") when used as a farewell. However, "good morning" has never evolved into a single-word compound and remains strictly two words in all contexts. This is simply how English has evolved differently for these greetings over time.
Do you capitalize both words in good morning?
I learned that capitalization depends on context. In email/message greetings, both words are often capitalized: "Good Morning, John." In regular sentences within text, use standard capitalization: "I said good morning to my neighbor." As a standalone greeting, either "Good morning" or "good morning" is acceptable depending on formality.
How do you use good morning in a sentence?
I found that "good morning" can be used as a greeting ("Good morning, everyone!"), as a noun phrase ("We had a good morning"), or in describing an action ("She wished me good morning"). When addressing someone, use a comma before their name: "Good morning, Sarah." This is grammatically precise and widely accepted in formal writing.
Is goodmorning ever correct?
I confirmed that "goodmorning" as one word is never correct in standard English. Unlike "goodnight" which can be one word, "good morning" must always be two words. This rule applies to all contexts: greetings, sentences, formal writing, and informal communication. Any dictionary or style guide will list it as two separate words.
What's the difference between good morning and goodmorning?
I found that "good morning" (two words) is the only correct spelling in English. "Goodmorning" (one word) is a common spelling error that results from incorrectly treating it like a compound word similar to "goodnight." The difference is simple: one is correct English grammar following standard rules, the other is a mistake that should be avoided in all writing.
Do you need a comma after good morning?
I learned that when addressing someone directly, you should use a comma before their name: "Good morning, John." The comma separates the greeting from the person's name and is grammatically required. However, if you're not addressing someone specific, no comma is needed: "Good morning!" or "Good morning, everyone!" (comma before "everyone" because you're addressing a group).
Is good morning a greeting or a noun phrase?
I discovered that "good morning" functions as both! It's commonly used as a greeting ("Good morning, friends!"), but also as a noun phrase in sentences ("We had a productive good morning"). The grammatical structure remains the same in both cases - an adjective ("good") modifying a noun ("morning") - which keeps them as two separate words in all contexts.
Sources
Research for this article was compiled from multiple authoritative grammar sources, dictionaries, and language reference websites. Key sources include:
- [Merriam-Webster Dictionary - GOOD MORNING Definition](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/good%20morning)
- [QuillBot - Is it goodmorning or good morning?](https://quillbot.com/blog/frequently-asked-questions/is-it-goodmorning-or-good-morning/)
- [GrammarNestly - Goodmorning or Good Morning: Which Is Correct?](https://grammarnestly.com/goodmorning-or-good-morning/)
- [CuriosityTap - Good Morning or Goodmorning – Which One Is Correct?](https://curiositytap.com/goodmorning-or-good-morning/)
- [PickCorrectWord - Goodmorning Or Good Morning: Which Is Correct?](https://pickcorrectword.com/goodmorning-or-good-morning/)
- [Word.tips - Good morning vs Goodmorning](https://word.tips/spelling/good%20morning-vs-goodmorning/)
- [Reddit - ELI5: Why is goodnight one word but good morning is two](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3obz6h/eli5_why_is_goodnight_one_word_but_good_morning/)