When copywriting, or writing any content, how do you spell wellbeing? A simple enough word, but recently a fellow freelance PR was challenged by a PR agency who insisted it was ‘well-being’. Turns out they are both correct. The US spelling is well-being while the UK uses wellbeing.
It does however bring up a good point; when copywriting, tailor it to the end audience. As a global PR I’m frequently switching between writing content for an American audience and a UK audience. This includes using ‘optimize’ or ‘optimise’ or whether the context requires me to use elevator vs lift. As well as lots of other considerations!
Why does this matter? Well, if you’re speaking to a US audience you want to make sure the language feels native not alien. If you don’t, they’ll concentrate on just the words you are using rather then the meaning and content you want to get across.
Aside from a quick Google, tools like Grammarly can help you find the right word for your audience.
Another resource I use to double check whether to use a hyphen when copywriting is the Guardian and Observer style guide. In case you were wondering, the Guardian and Observer style guide: W | | The Guardian – preferred ‘wellbeing’.
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