cross-check

Use cross-check with a hyphen. The hyphen signals a single compound whether you use it as a verb, a noun, or an adjectival modifier.

Below are short rules, plenty of examples (work, school, casual), ready-to-paste rewrites, and quick checks to fix sentences fast.

Quick answer

Write cross-check with a hyphen. Standard forms: to cross-check (verb), a cross-check (noun), cross-check procedure (adjective).

Verb: I'll cross-check the figures before I send them.
Noun: Run a cross-check on the report.
Adjective: The cross-check process found the mismatch.

Core hyphenation rule (short)

When two words combine to express one idea and one modifies the other, hyphenate: cross + check → cross-check. Major dictionaries and style guides list the hyphenated form.

Avoid one-word crosscheck and the two-word cross check in formal or consistent documents.
Quick test: if you can insert "to" (to cross-check) or use the phrase before a noun (cross-check procedure), use the hyphen.

Hyphenation specifics for cross-check

Conjugation and forms keep the hyphen: to cross-check, we cross-check, she cross-checked, cross-checking. Noun: a cross-check; plural: cross-checks. Adjectival use keeps the hyphen when it comes before a noun.

Correct verbs: cross-check, cross-checked, cross-checking.
Correct noun/adjective: a cross-check; cross-check procedure.
Keep the hyphen in past and participle forms: She cross-checked the figures (not cross checked).

Spacing and capitalization

Never run the words together in standard usage. Keep the hyphen and apply your capitalization rules for titles or sentences.

Wrong: crosscheck, cross check (in formal writing).
Right: cross-check.
Headings: Cross-Check Results (title case) or Cross-check results (sentence case), depending on style.
In file names or limited-punctuation contexts, the hyphen still clarifies: Cross-Check_Q2 or cross-check_results.

Grammar: noun, adjective, verb - concrete examples

Short, direct examples show where the hyphen appears.

Verb: We will cross-check the invoice.
Noun: A cross-check caught the error.
Adjective: The cross-check method improved accuracy.

Work - Verb: Wrong: I'll cross check the report tonight.
Right: I'll cross-check the report tonight.
School - Noun: Wrong: Do a cross check on the bibliography.
Right: Do a cross-check on the bibliography.
Work - Adjective: Wrong: The cross check procedure failed.
Right: The cross-check procedure failed.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence rather than the isolated phrase. Context usually makes whether to hyphenate obvious.

Real usage: work, school, and casual examples

Default to the hyphen for emails, reports, assignments, or any text a client or instructor will read. In casual chat you can be flexible, but keep the hyphen when numbers, dates, or clarity matter.

Work 1: Wrong: Please cross check the Q2 numbers before the meeting.
Right: Please cross-check the Q2 numbers before the meeting.
Work 2: Wrong: We need a cross check of inventory counts tonight.
Right: We need a cross-check of inventory counts tonight.
Work 3: Wrong: Cross check the vendor invoice against the PO.
Right: Cross-check the vendor invoice against the PO.
School 1: Wrong: Make sure to cross check your bibliography.
Right: Make sure to cross-check your bibliography.
School 2: Wrong: The cross check revealed several misaligned references.
Right: The cross-check revealed several misaligned references.
School 3: Wrong: Students should cross check each citation.
Right: Students should cross-check each citation.
Casual 1: Wrong: Can you cross check dinner time?
Right: Can you cross-check dinner time?
Casual 2: Wrong: Did a quick cross check and it's fine.
Right: Did a quick cross-check and it's fine.
Casual 3: Wrong: I'll cross check the RSVP list tomorrow.
Right: I'll cross-check the RSVP list tomorrow.

Fix your sentence: ready-to-paste rewrite templates

Three templates you can drop in immediately plus short, practical rewrites.

Verb template: I'll cross-check [object] before [event].
Noun template: Run a cross-check on [object] to confirm [result].
Adjective template: The cross-check [noun] identified [problem].

Rewrite 1: Wrong: I will cross check the document tonight.
Rewrite: I will cross-check the document tonight.
Rewrite 2: Wrong: Do a cross check of these totals.
Rewrite: Run a cross-check of these totals.
Rewrite 3: Wrong: The cross check procedure failed.
Rewrite: The cross-check procedure failed.
Formal upgrade: Casual: Can you cross-check this? →
Formal: Please cross-check this document and confirm any discrepancies by 3 PM.
Shorten: Wordy: I will cross check the entries and then get back to you. → Direct: I will cross-check the entries and reply.

Memory tricks and quick checks

Two fast edits you can use while scanning a draft.

Insert "to": If "to cross-check" sounds natural, hyphenate.
Pre-noun test: If the phrase modifies a noun and sits before it, hyphenate (cross-check procedure).
Find-and-replace: Search for "cross check" (space) and replace with "cross-check", then skim headings and captions for case issues.

Trick-example: "To cross-check the totals" → hyphen: to cross-check the totals.

Similar hyphenation mistakes to watch for

These compounds follow the same logic: prefer the hyphen for clarity unless your house style says otherwise.

double-check - Right: double-check the answer.
re-enter - Often hyphenated: re-enter your password (some styles accept reenter).
crosscheck - Avoid the one-word form in formal writing.

Comparison 1: Wrong: double check the math.
Right: double-check the math.
Comparison 2: Wrong: reenter the data.
Right: re-enter the data (or follow your style guide).

FAQ

Is it cross check or cross-check?

Standard usage is cross-check with a hyphen for noun, verb, and adjectival forms.

Can I ever write crosscheck as one word?

No. Crosscheck is nonstandard for formal writing and can trigger editing flags. Avoid it.

Do I keep the hyphen in titles and headings?

Yes. Keep the hyphen and apply title-case or sentence-case capitalization per your style: "Cross-Check Results" or "Cross-check results."

How do I fix every instance of 'cross check' in a long document?

Use find-and-replace for "cross check" → "cross-check", then manually skim headings, captions, and tables to preserve case and punctuation.

What about similar compounds?

Treat compounds like double-check the same way (hyphenate). For items such as re-enter, check your organization's style but stay consistent across the document.

Need a quick scan?

If you want to catch inconsistent hyphenation and small errors quickly, run a grammar or hyphenation checker and then apply the simple rewrite templates above.

Use the widget above or your preferred tool to standardize cross-check throughout a document and copy the ready-made rewrites into emails, reports, or assignments.