When you think about something that’s been whipped up in someone’s kitchen or crafted in their living room, how do you describe it? Do you call it home made or homemade? Maybe you’ve seen both versions and aren’t sure which one is correct.
Well, the right way to say it is “homemade.”
The meaning of this word is as simple as it sounds—anything made at home.
But what if you’ve been using the other version? Is it wrong? Let’s clear up any confusion and dig a little deeper.
Home Made or Homemade? Which is Correct?
If you’re looking for a straightforward answer, homemade is the correct spelling. It is a single word, not two separate words.
Let’s dive deeper to understand why it’s “homemade” and not “home made.”
Why Homemade is the correct spelling
“Homemade” is an adjective, which means it’s used to describe a noun (a person, place, thing, or idea). When you use “homemade,” you’re talking about something that’s been made or cooked at home, instead of in a store or factory.
For instance, you might say, “I love the taste of homemade cookies,” meaning cookies baked at home, not bought from a shop.
The confusion probably comes from the fact that “home” and “made” are both common English words, and seeing them together, it might feel right to keep them apart. But according to English language rules, they’re what we call a compound word. This is when two or more words join together to make a new word with its own unique meaning.
In the case of “homemade,” “home” and “made” come together to create a new word that specifically means something made at home.
On the other hand, “home made” as two separate words doesn’t have the same meaning. “Home” would be a noun, and “made” would be a verb, but there’s no usual grammatical context where they’d appear next to each other as two separate words. This can cause confusion in the message you’re trying to convey.
Homemade: Meaning and Usage
As mentioned above, “homemade” is a single word formed by combining “home” and “made.” It’s often used when talking about food, but you can use it for anything made at home, like homemade clothes, crafts, or even remedies.
For example, consider the sentence,
- “She prefers homemade bread to store-bought bread.”
In this sentence, “homemade” is an adjective that describes the noun “bread.” By saying “homemade,” it suggests that the bread was baked at home, hinting that it might be fresher, healthier, or made with more attention than bread made on a large scale.
Homemade vs Home-made: Is the hyphenated form correct?
Now, what about “home-made” with a hyphen? Well, most dictionaries, including the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster, show “homemade” as a single word without a hyphen. This is because, over time, the version without the hyphen has become the common way to write it in both American and British English.
However, you might still come across “home-made” in older writings or when the writer wants to highlight the separate parts of the compound word. But for most modern, everyday writing, “homemade” is the preferred spelling.
So, even though you might see “home-made” from time to time, the version without the hyphen is more widely accepted and used in today’s English.
Examples of Using “Homemade“ in A Sentence
“She gifted me a jar of homemade jam.”
“The homemade costume was a hit at the party.”
“We love homemade pizza on Fridays.”
“His homemade kite flew the highest at the kite-flying competition.”
“The homemade bread smelled amazing.”
“She sold homemade candles online.”
“The homemade salsa was spicy and fresh.”
“He repaired the chair with homemade rattan sheets and natural glue.”
“Their homemade, hand-churned ice cream won the contest.”
“The homemade decorations were charming and added a welcoming vibe to the party.”
