runnner-up

Short answer: write runner-up (hyphenated) for a second-place person or team. Plural: runners-up. Watch for missing hyphens, extra letters (runnner-up), and awkward possessive plurals.

Quick answer

Use runner-up for the singular noun or modifier. Plural: runners-up. Fix typos like runnner-up and runnerup.

Singular noun or modifier: runner-up
Plural: runners-up (not runner-ups)
Singular possessive: runner-up's (the runner-up's medal)
If a plural possessive is awkward, rephrase: the prize for the runners-up

Core rule: hyphenate runner-up

Runner-up is a compound noun: a noun (runner) plus a particle (up). Standard usage shows a hyphen whether it names someone or modifies another noun.

If you mean a second-place finisher, write runner-up. For the verb phrase "to run up," do not hyphenate.

Correct: She was the runner-up.
Correct as modifier: the runner-up prize
Incorrect as verb: run up (no hyphen)

Spacing vs hyphenation: runner up vs runner-up

Writing runner up (two words) can read like a verb phrase. In almost every case where you mean "second place," use runner-up for clarity, especially in formal writing.

Avoid "runner up" in emails, reports, and essays.
If you see "runner up" in a document, change it to runner-up for consistency.

Wrong: She was named runner up of the scholarship competition.
Right: She was named runner-up of the scholarship competition.

Grammar: plural and possessive forms

Pluralize the head noun: runners-up. Don't add the s to "up" (runner-ups is incorrect). Form the singular possessive normally: runner-up's.

Plural possessives (runners-up's) are clumsy; prefer a rewrite whenever possible.

Singular: runner-up
Plural: runners-up
Singular possessive: runner-up's
Rewrite instead of awkward: the prize for the runners-up

Wrong: All the runner-ups received framed certificates.
Right: All the runners-up received framed certificates.
Wrong: The runner ups' coach gave a speech.
Right: The coach of the runners-up gave a speech.

Common typos and how to spot them

Typical errors: doubled letters (runnner-up), missing hyphen (runnerup), and incorrect plural (runner-ups). Spellcheck can miss some of these, so use targeted proofreading.

Quick checks: look for the hyphen; for plurals, move the s to runners-; read the phrase aloud to confirm it names a person or role.

Watch for "runnner-up" (extra n)
Avoid "runnerup" and "runnerups" (missing hyphen)
Use find-and-replace to fix repeated mistakes
Scan for awkward possessive plurals and rephrase

Wrong: John finished as the runnner-up in the race.
Right: John finished as the runner-up in the race.
Wrong: We listed the runnerup on the roster.
Right: We listed the runner-up on the roster.
Wrong: Congrats to the runnerups - close race!
Right: Congrats to the runners-up - close race!

Try your own sentence

Test the entire sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the right choice obvious.

Examples: quick wrong → right pairs (copyable fixes)

Use these pairs to correct common errors quickly. Each "right" line is ready to paste.

Wrong: The runner up for Employee of the Month will present next week. -
Right: The runner-up for Employee of the Month will present next week.
Wrong: Please note the runnerups in the project roster. -
Right: Please note the runners-up in the project roster.
Wrong: My science fair runner up will present his experiment on Friday. -
Right: My science fair runner-up will present his experiment on Friday.
Wrong: List the runner up's accomplishments on the resume. -
Right: List the runner-up's accomplishments on the resume.
Wrong: I shouted, "Go, runner up!" from the stands. -
Right: I shouted, "Go, runner-up!" from the stands.
Wrong: Runnerup's note: see attached. -
Right: Runner-up's note: see attached.

Real usage: work, school, and casual sentences

Typical mistakes and clean rewrites for common contexts.

Work - Wrong: The runner up's idea moved forward in the project plan. -
Right: The runner-up's idea moved forward in the project plan.
Work - Wrong: We announced the runner ups at the staff meeting. -
Right: We announced the runners-up at the staff meeting.
Work - Wrong: Please add the runnerup to the press list. -
Right: Please add the runner-up to the press list.
School - Wrong: The runner up received an honorable mention certificate. -
Right: The runner-up received an honorable mention certificate.
School - Wrong: The runner ups' projects were displayed in the hall. -
Right: The projects of the runners-up were displayed in the hall.
School - Wrong: Who was the runnerup in the debate? -
Right: Who was the runner-up in the debate?
Casual - Wrong: Shoutout to our runner up for an amazing effort! -
Right: Shoutout to our runner-up for an amazing effort!
Casual - Wrong: Congrats to the runnerups - so close! -
Right: Congrats to the runners-up - so close!
Casual - Wrong: I cheered for the runner up from the bleachers. -
Right: I cheered for the runner-up from the bleachers.

Rewrite help: 3-step fix + ready rewrites

Three easy steps: identify whether you're naming someone, add or check the hyphen, then fix plural or possessive placement. Rephrase if a plural possessive looks awkward.

Step 1: Is it naming a person or team? Use runner-up.
Step 2: If plural, move the s to make runners-up.
Step 3: For possessives, prefer "the prize for the runners-up" over "runners-up's."

Rewrite:
Wrong: The runner ups' awards were displayed. -
Rewrite: The awards for the runners-up were displayed.
Rewrite:
Wrong: She was the runner up in our internal hackathon. -
Rewrite: She was the runner-up in our internal hackathon.
Rewrite:
Wrong: Runnerup's note: see attached. -
Rewrite: Runner-up's note: see attached.
Rewrite:
Wrong: The runner-ups's prize was delayed. -
Rewrite: The prize for the runners-up was delayed.

Memory trick and similar mistakes to watch for

Mnemonic: think of a label hung on a person - the hyphen is the hook that connects the label: runner-up.

Other similar compounds follow the same pattern: follow-up, pick-me-up, second-place (hyphen when used as a modifier).

Memory: label = hyphen (runner-up, pick-me-up, follow-up)
Second-place: hyphen when modifying (second-place winner) but not when following a verb (finished in second place)
Common confusions to fix: runner up, runnerup, runner-ups

Usage: Incorrect: She is our second place winner. -
Correct: She is our second-place winner.
Usage: Incorrect: He handed her a pick me up. -
Correct: He handed her a pick-me-up.
Usage: Incorrect: runnerups -
Correct: runners-up

FAQ

Is it runner up or runner-up?

Runner-up (hyphenated) is the correct form for the person or team finishing second.

How do you pluralize runner-up?

Pluralize the head noun: runners-up. Do not write runner-ups.

When should I hyphenate second place?

Use a hyphen when it modifies a noun (second-place winner). When it follows the verb, don't hyphenate: "She finished in second place."

Why didn't my spellchecker catch runnner-up?

Some checkers miss doubled-letter typos or plausible-looking words. Proofread and use targeted find-and-replace for recurring errors.

What's the best fix for an awkward "runners-up's" possessive?

Rephrase: "the prize for the runners-up" or "the runners-up received the prize" is clearer than "runners-up's prize."

Quick fix now

Paste your sentence into a grammar tool that flags hyphenation and plurals, or run a find-and-replace for "runner up" and "runnerup," then check plurals and possessives. A few quick passes will catch most mistakes.