Is it “race car” or “racecar”?
Both are used, but “race car” (two words) is the standard choice in most formal and journalistic writing, while “racecar” (one word) is widely accepted in American English and common in informal contexts; in British English, “racing car” is typical. Here’s how to choose the right form based on audience, style guide, and region.
Contents
What dictionaries and style guides say
Major dictionaries and style manuals vary on this compound, which is why both spellings circulate. The key is to match your usage to the authority you or your organization follows.
- Merriam-Webster (U.S.): Lists “racecar” as a single word and treats it as standard American usage.
- AP Stylebook (newsrooms): Uses “race car” as two words, and would hyphenate as a compound modifier (e.g., “race-car driver”).
- Chicago Manual of Style (publishing/academic): Defers to dictionaries; following Merriam-Webster makes “racecar” acceptable, but consistency is emphasized.
- British usage (Oxford/Collins/Cambridge): Prefers “racing car”; “race car” appears in U.S.-focused contexts, while “racecar” is far less common in the UK.
In practice, if you write for American news media, “race car” is safest. If you write general American prose and follow Merriam-Webster, “racecar” is fine. For UK audiences, “racing car” aligns with local norms.
Usage in motorsport and media
Motorsport organizations, broadcasters, and specialist publications are not perfectly consistent, but patterns do emerge across regions and formats.
- U.S. sanctioning bodies and race coverage frequently use “race car” (two words) in releases, captions, and technical notes.
- International and UK outlets often use “racing car,” especially in Formula One contexts and British publications.
- Enthusiast forums, marketing copy, and informal writing in the U.S. often favor “racecar,” helped by its status as a well-known palindrome.
Because outlets mix styles, your safest approach is to follow your organization’s house style or the dominant usage of your target publication.
Which should you use? Practical guidance
Choose the form that fits your audience and style requirements. These guidelines cover the most common scenarios.
- News, formal reports, or mixed international audiences: Use “race car.”
- General American English without a strict style guide: “Racecar” is acceptable; stay consistent throughout a document.
- UK and Commonwealth audiences: Prefer “racing car.”
- As a modifier before another noun under AP-style rules: Hyphenate (“race-car driver,” “race-car engineering”).
- Plurals: “race cars,” “racecars,” or “racing cars,” matching your chosen base form.
If in doubt, default to “race car,” which reads naturally and is widely understood across regions and registers.
Examples in sentences
These examples illustrate how each form appears in context and how hyphenation works when the term modifies another noun.
- The team unveiled a new race car for the endurance season.
- He built a racecar in his garage using a lightweight tubular frame.
- The British manufacturer introduced its latest racing car at Silverstone.
- She’s a veteran race-car driver with multiple podiums.
All four sentences are acceptable, provided they align with the style and regional norms you’re following.
Etymology and notes
“Race car” is a straightforward compound of “race” and “car.” The closed form “racecar” gained traction in American usage and is popularized further by its status as a palindrome. Meaning does not change between the two forms, and hyphenation is primarily a stylistic concern when the compound precedes another noun.
Summary
Use “race car” in most formal and journalistic contexts; “racecar” is acceptable American usage, especially in informal writing; in British English, “racing car” is preferred. Match your audience and style guide, and be consistent throughout your text.
Is it a race car driver or racing driver?
A racing driver drives in races. Races are wheel to wheel, meaning there is passing (unlike rally, for example). A race car driver does not necessarily race wheel to wheel (something like time attack or rally).
Is racecar a single word?
🏎️ Racecar (compound word) and race car (two words) are both acceptable and considered correct spellings. 🏎️ Racecar is a palindrome: spelled the same way backwards and forwards!
What is the meaning of racecar?
: a very fast car that is used in professional auto racing.
What type of word is racecar?
palindrome
A palindrome (/ˈpæl. ɪn. droʊm/) is a word, number, phrase, or other sequence of symbols that reads the same backwards as forwards, such as madam or racecar, the date “02/02/2020” and the sentence: “A man, a plan, a canal – Panama”.