If you take a makeup test, is it correct to call it a makeup, make up, or make-up test?
I know that makeup is also what some people put on their faces to look different. I think that make-up is what is used when you "make-up something" as in do something late. I think that "make up" is when you create something. So if you take a "makeup quiz" what is the correct one to use?
Is the following a correct sentence:
You can make-up the makeup exam?
Best Answer
You said:
Unless it's a make-up exam about cosmetics, this wouldn't be what you're looking for, especially since "make-up" is a descriptor and "make up" is an action.
Would be a consistent, sensible convention. As noted by @J.R. below, it's not necessarily correct since Harvard lists both. However, this is the convention that I would use.
[Make up] as the action and [make-up] as the descriptor.
Makeup as a compound word used to represent cosmetics.