business man (businessman)

A single space can turn a standard noun into an error. When you mean a male who works in business, write businessman as one word.

Below: a clear quick answer, the core rule, spacing and hyphenation notes, many copy-ready examples, quick rewrites, a short checklist, and related mistakes to watch for.

Quick answer

Use businessman (one word) for the conventional role. Only write business man (two words) when you deliberately mean "a man who is in a business," which is rare.

Correct (closed compound): businessman
Incorrect (split): business man (unless used intentionally as a descriptive phrase)
Gender-neutral alternatives: businessperson, business owner, entrepreneur

Core grammar: why "businessman" is one word

Many job and role nouns become closed compounds as they settle into common use: businessman, policeman, salesperson. If two words name a single role, the closed form is standard.

Rule of thumb: If it names a role or title, use one word.
If you want to avoid gender, use businessperson or a specific job title (CEO, manager, founder).
Wrong: business man attended the conference.
Right: The businessman attended the conference. Neutral: The businessperson attended the conference.

Spacing errors: why writers split the word and how to spot it

Writers split compounds from habit, visual chunking, or uncertainty. To check a phrase, ask: does it name a single role? If yes, close it to businessman and read the sentence aloud-if it flows, the closed form is correct.

Quick check: replace the phrase with a clear job title (e.g., CEO, owner). If that works, use the closed compound.
Search your draft for "business man" to catch repeated errors.
Wrong: We need to assign a business man to the new account.
Right: We need to assign a businessman to the new account. (Or: We need an account manager.)
Wrong: The business man/owner was late.
Right: The business owner was late.

Hyphenation: when to hyphenate and when not to

Hyphens clarify compound modifiers (two-year-old, business-related). They aren't used when a compound noun is already closed.

Don't write business-man or business-man's; use businessman.
Use hyphens for modifiers: business-related expenses; business-to-business agreement.
Wrong: We hired a business-man last month.
Right: We hired a businessman last month.
Wrong: manmade item.
Right: man-made item.

Examples you can copy: work, school, and casual

Practical pairs grouped by context. Copy the correct sentence or adapt the alternative rewrites shown.

Work - Wrong: Please introduce the business man to the client. Work -
Right: Please introduce the businessman to the client. (or: Please introduce the account manager.)
Work - Wrong: The business man's contract ends next month. Work -
Right: The businessman's contract ends next month.
Work - Wrong: A business man will lead the merger discussion. Work -
Right: A businessman will lead the merger discussion. (or: The CEO will lead the discussion.)
School - Wrong: In my paper I interviewed a business man from the local market. School -
Right: In my paper I interviewed a businessman from the local market.
School - Wrong: The assignment profiled a business man and his strategy. School -
Right: The assignment profiled a businessman and his strategy.
School - Wrong: The business man we studied started three companies. School -
Right: The businessman we studied started three companies.
Casual - Wrong: Met a super smart business man today. Casual -
Right: Met a super smart businessman today.
Casual - Wrong: My friend's a business man now. Casual -
Right: My friend's a businessman now. (or: My friend's starting a business.)
Casual - Wrong: That business man really knew his numbers. Casual -
Right: That businessman really knew his numbers.

Rewrite help: three quick fixes and multiple rewrites

Use this checklist and the rewrites to fix sentences fast.

Checklist: (1) Is a role/title meant? (2) If yes, use businessman. (3) If neutral, use businessperson or a specific job title.
Original: We need a business man for the pitch. → Rewrites: We need a businessman for the pitch. / We need a businessperson for the pitch. / We need a presenter for the pitch.
Original: A business man wrote the report. → Rewrites: A businessman wrote the report. / An analyst wrote the report. / An entrepreneur wrote the report.
Original: My cousin is a business man. → Rewrites: My cousin is a businessman. / My cousin runs a business. / My cousin is a business owner.
Original: She hired a business man. → Rewrites: She hired a businessperson. / She hired a salesperson. / She hired the new operations manager.
Original: The business man's idea was bold. → Rewrites: The businessman's idea was bold. / The entrepreneur's idea was bold.
Original: Report on a business man who launched a startup. → Rewrites: Report on a businessman who launched a startup. / Report on an entrepreneur who launched a startup.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually decides whether to close the compound or choose a neutral title.

Fix-it checklist: three quick steps to correct any sentence

When you spot "business man," apply these steps and then re-read for flow and grammar.

Step 1: Does the phrase name a single role? If yes, close it: businessman.
Step 2: To avoid gender or be more precise, replace with businessperson, business owner, CEO, entrepreneur, salesperson, etc.
Step 3: Re-read and check possessive/plural forms: businessman's, businessmen, businesspeople.
Examples: We met a business man. → We met a businessman. (or: We met a businessperson.)
The business man's report was late. → The businessman's report was late.
Several business men attended. → Several businessmen attended. (or: Several businesspeople attended.)

Real usage and tone: choosing words for different audiences

Match the form to your audience. Formal contexts favor closed compounds or, better, a precise title. Neutral/professional language benefits from gender-neutral options. Casual speech accepts businessman but avoid the spaced form.

Formal: Use businessman or a specific title (e.g., The CEO acquired two subsidiaries).
Neutral/professional: Use businessperson, business owner, or a job title (The businessperson will oversee expansion).
Casual: Businessman reads naturally; don't write business man.

Memory tricks and quick rules to avoid the error

Adopt a tiny editing routine and a few memory aids to stop spacing errors.

Mnemonic: Treat businessman like other job nouns (teacher, postman) - one word for one role.
Editing habit: Search your draft for "business man" and replace with the closed or neutral form.
Keep a short list of closed compounds you use frequently and glance at it before final edits.
Quick test: If you can swap a job title (manager, owner) into the sentence, it's probably a closed compound.

Similar mistakes to catch at the same time

Fixing business man is a good trigger to scan for other two-word errors and hyphenation issues.

Common closed forms: businessman, businesswoman, salesman, salesperson, housekeeper, firefighter.
Hyphen vs closed: man-made (hyphen), manhunt (closed), business-to-business (hyphenated as a modifier).
Wrong: sales man met the client.
Right: The salesman met the client. (or: The salesperson met the client.)
Wrong: business woman received the award.
Right: The businesswoman received the award.
Wrong: house keeper cleans the apartment daily.
Right: The housekeeper cleans the apartment daily.

FAQ

Is businessman one word or two?

Businessman is one word. The closed compound is the standard form when you mean the conventional role.

When is it acceptable to write business man with a space?

Only when you intentionally mean "a man who is in a business" as a descriptive phrase. That use is rare and often awkward; for role or ownership, choose businessman or business owner.

Should I use businessperson instead of businessman?

Use businessperson for gender-neutral language. It's often preferred in professional and formal contexts unless gender is specifically relevant.

Do I ever hyphenate businessman?

No. Don't write business-man. Use hyphens for other compound modifiers when needed (e.g., man-made, business-related).

How can I avoid this mistake in future edits?

Search your draft for "business man" and similar two-word combos, replace with the closed or neutral form, and consider a grammar/spacing checker to flag errors automatically.

Want a quick check?

If a sentence feels off, paste it into a checker or search your document for "business man" and try the one-word replacement. Use the rewrites above-businessman, businessperson, business owner, or a job title-to make your writing clearer and more professional.