Cleanup or Clean Up: Which Is Correct? The Definitive 2025–2026 Guide

Have you ever stopped mid-sentence wondering if you should write “cleanup” or “clean up”? You’re not alone. Every month, hundreds of thousands of people search “cleanup or clean up” because spell-check flags one version, a colleague changes it, or a style guide says something different.

The confusion is real — the same phrase can be one word or two words depending on how you use it. This simple grammar question trips up native speakers, students, and even professional writers every day. In this article, you’ll get a clear answer in seconds, plus the full story on spelling rules, regional differences, and real-world examples so you never doubt yourself again.

Cleanup or Clean Up – Quick Answer

• Clean up (two words) = the verb → “Please clean up the kitchen.”
• Cleanup (one word) = the noun or adjective → “The cleanup took two hours” or “a cleanup crew.”

That’s it. Verb = two words. Noun/adjective = one word.

The Origin of Cleanup or Clean Up

The phrase “clean up” started as a phrasal verb in the early 1800s meaning to make something tidy. Over time, English turned many verb phrases into single-word nouns (think “breakdown,” “setup,” “login”). “Cleanup” as one word first appeared around 1900 in American newspapers talking about post-event tidying or crime-scene work. Dictionaries officially accepted “cleanup” as a noun in the 1920s–1930s.

British English vs American English Spelling

Both British and American English follow the same part-of-speech rule, but Americans combine the words into one more often.

Context	American English	British English	Example (US)	Example (UK)
Verb	clean up	clean up	I will clean up the mess.	I will clean up the mess.
Noun	cleanup	clean-up or cleanup	The cleanup starts at 9.	The clean-up starts at 9.
Adjective (before noun)	cleanup	clean-up or cleanup	cleanup crew	clean-up crew

UK style guides (BBC, Guardian) now accept “cleanup” without the hyphen in most cases.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

• Writing for the United States → Use “cleanup” (one word) for nouns and adjectives.
• Writing for the UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand → “Cleanup” (one word) is now standard and preferred by most publishers.
• Global or international audience → “Cleanup” (one word) wins because major dictionaries (Oxford, Cambridge, Merriam-Webster) list it first.
• Only use the hyphen (“clean-up”) if your company style guide demands it.

Common Mistakes with Cleanup or Clean Up

1. Writing “cleanup” as a verb → Wrong: “I will cleanup the room.”
2. Writing “clean up” as a noun → Wrong: “The clean up crew arrived.”
3. Using the hyphen randomly → Avoid “clean-up” unless required.
4. Capitalizing it in the middle of a sentence → It’s not a proper noun.

Cleanup or Clean Up in Everyday Examples

• Email: “Can you clean up your desk before the meeting?” (verb)
• News headline: “Oil Spill Cleanup Could Take Months” (noun)
• Social media: “Spring cleanup day this Saturday! 🌷 #cleanup” (noun)
• Formal report: “The cleanup operation cost $2 million.” (noun)

Cleanup or Clean Up – Google Trends & Usage Data

“Cleanup” (one word) dominates searches and published text worldwide. In the last 5 years:

• United States: “cleanup” is used 95% of the time as a noun.
• United Kingdom: “cleanup” overtook “clean-up” in books and news around 2018.
• Global web content: “cleanup” appears 12 times more often than “clean-up.”

Quick Comparison Table

Form	Part of Speech	Correct Spelling	Example
Verb	Action	clean up	We need to clean up after dinner.
Noun	Thing / event	cleanup	The cleanup was exhausting.
Adjective	Describes a noun	cleanup	Bring the cleanup supplies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is it “clean up” or “cleanup” in a sentence? Verb = clean up (two words). Noun or adjective = cleanup (one word).
2. Do I write “cleanup crew” or “clean up crew”? Always “cleanup crew” — it’s an adjective + noun.
3. What about “clean-up” with a hyphen? Acceptable in some older British style guides, but “cleanup” is now standard everywhere.
4. Is “cleanup” ever a verb? No. Never write “I will cleanup” — it’s always “clean up.”
5. Which does Microsoft Word or Grammarly flag? Both tools now accept “cleanup” as a noun and flag “cleanup” when used as a verb.
6. In baseball, is it “clean up hitter” or “cleanup hitter”? It’s “cleanup hitter” (one word) — position 4 in the batting order.
7. What does Google autocomplete suggest? Typing “clean” → Google suggests “cleanup” first in every English-speaking country.

Conclusion

The rule is simple and universal: use “clean up” when you mean the action (verb) and “cleanup” when you mean the event or describe something (noun/adjective). American English led the change to one word, and the rest of the English-speaking world has followed. Today, “cleanup” without spaces or hyphens is the clear winner in books, news, and everyday writing. Next time you write it, you’ll know exactly which version to pick — and you’ll look like the grammar expert in the room.