Well-being vs wellbeing

Have you ever been puzzled by the different spellings of “well-being” and “wellbeing”? I was, so I decided to investigate. Before we dive in, take a guess: which one do you think is correct?

The best way to find information about words is to check official dictionaries. According to the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the correct spelling is with a hyphen: “well-being.” However, some sources confirm that “wellbeing” in one word is widespread due to the famous publication WellBeing: The Five Essential Elements by Rath and Harter. Even though official dictionaries don’t recognise the one-word spelling, many people still use “wellbeing” in their communication. It’s worth noting that there is also a version that spells the term in two words – “well being” – but this would be incorrect if you mean the state of being well and healthy.

I have to confess that I used to write “wellbeing” for a long time without investigating the story behind it. After reading the official explanation in dictionaries, I switched to the hyphenated version in my communication. But language is constantly evolving, so perhaps the one-word spelling will become the correct version in the future. Ultimately, it’s up to you to choose the version that feels right for you.

Enjoy your state of being well, however you spell it 🙂