short coming (shortcoming)

Shortcoming is a single noun meaning a fault, limitation, or weakness. Writing it as "short coming" almost always splits the compound incorrectly. The examples below show quick rules, many wrong→right pairs, and ready rewrites for work, school, and casual contexts.

Quick answer

Use shortcoming as one word for a fault or limitation. Do not write "short coming." Avoid the hyphen (short-coming) in modern writing. If you mean "not long enough," use "too short" or "not long enough"; if you mean "fail to meet," use "fall short" or "come up short."

shortcoming = a flaw, limitation, or weakness (noun).
short coming = incorrect split of the noun in nearly all cases.
For length: "too short." For failing to meet expectations: "fall short" or "come up short."

Core explanation: what shortcoming means

Shortcoming is a closed compound noun that names a defect or limitation that hinders success. It behaves like other nouns: identify shortcomings, discuss the shortcomings of X, acknowledge a shortcoming.

Part of speech: noun. Plural: shortcomings.
Common verbs: reveal shortcomings, address shortcomings, have shortcomings.
Usage: The main shortcoming of the design is poor ventilation.
Usage: She discussed her shortcomings during the review.

Spacing: why "short coming" is wrong

The one-word form evolved because the two elements together name a single idea. Splitting them usually turns the phrase into a typo or creates a different meaning.

Replacement test: if you can say "a limitation," use shortcoming (one word).
If "short" is an adjective meaning "not long enough," it belongs with a different noun (e.g., "too short for the dress code").

Wrong: Her biggest short coming is a lack of focus.
Right: Her biggest shortcoming is a lack of focus.
Different meaning: Wrong: "The skirt is short coming the dress code."
Correct: "The skirt is too short for the dress code."

Hyphenation: is short-coming ever acceptable?

Modern usage favors the single word shortcoming. Hyphenation (short-coming) is old-fashioned and unnecessary, except for rare line breaks in printed text.

Preferred: shortcoming
Avoid: short-coming (archaic) and short coming (incorrect split)

Wrong: The short-coming was obvious to everyone.
Right: The shortcoming was obvious to everyone.

Grammar: how to replace the noun when needed

Shortcoming is a noun. If your sentence needs a verb or adjective, switch to verbs like "fall short" or adjectives like "insufficient" to keep the sentence natural.

Noun: shortcoming / shortcomings
Verb alternatives: fall short, fail to meet expectations
Adjective alternatives: insufficient, weak, limited

Noun: A shortcoming of the plan is unclear roles.
Verb: The plan falls short in defining roles.
Adjective: The plan is insufficiently detailed on roles.

Examples: wrong → right pairs (work, school, casual)

Copy the right-hand sentence when you need a fast fix. Context determines whether the noun, verb, or softer phrasing fits best.

Work wrong: The team's short coming was missed deadlines and mixed ownership.Work right: The team's shortcoming was missed deadlines and unclear ownership.
Work wrong: One short coming of the software is the lack of multi-user support.Work right: One shortcoming of the software is the lack of multi-user support.
Work wrong: Her short coming as a manager is micromanaging small tasks.Work right: Her shortcoming as a manager is micromanaging small tasks.
School wrong: A short coming of the study was selection bias.School right: A shortcoming of the study was selection bias.
School wrong: My paper's short coming is an underdeveloped methodology section.School right: My paper's shortcoming is an underdeveloped methodology section.
School wrong: The course's short coming was too few lab sessions.School right: The course's shortcoming was too few lab sessions.
Casual wrong: The movie's short coming was the predictable plot twist.Casual right: The movie's shortcoming was the predictable plot twist.
Casual wrong: My only short coming is that I always forget names.Casual right: My only shortcoming is that I always forget names.
Casual wrong: A short coming in the plan made us miss the trip.Casual right: A shortcoming in the plan made us miss the trip.
General wrong: The product suffers from several short comings.General right: The product suffers from several shortcomings.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually reveals whether you need the noun shortcoming, an adjective, or a verb phrase.

How to fix your sentence: step-by-step rewrites

Quick check: 1) Are you naming a fault? 2) Is the word acting as a noun? 3) Does "a limitation" fit? If yes → shortcoming.

Step 1: Replace "short coming" → "shortcoming" when it's a noun.
Step 2: If you need action, use "falls short" or "fails to meet."
Step 3: For a softer tone, use "area for improvement" or "one area to address."

Rewrite 1 Wrong: The team's short coming cost us the client.
Formal: The team's shortcoming cost us the client. Neutral: Poor communication cost us the client.
Casual: What let the team down was poor communication.
Rewrite 2 Wrong: One short coming of my essay is its weak argument.
Formal: One shortcoming of my essay is its weak argument. Neutral: My essay's argument is weak and needs stronger evidence.
Casual: My essay falls short on the argument.
Rewrite 3 Wrong: The product's short coming is customer confusion around setup.
Formal: The product's shortcoming is customer confusion around setup. Neutral: Customers find the setup confusing.
Casual: People get confused trying to set it up.
Rewrite 4 Wrong: His short coming in the role is poor time management.
Formal: His shortcoming in the role is poor time management. Neutral: He needs to improve his time management.
Casual: He struggles with managing his time.

Real usage and tone: when to use shortcoming vs other phrasing

Shortcoming suits formal and neutral contexts: reports, evaluations, and academic writing. For informal speech, simpler or softer phrasing often reads better.

Formal: shortcoming, limitation, deficiency (reports, papers)
Neutral: weakness, flaw, falls short (discussions, memos)
Casual: lets down, falls short, what's lacking (texts, conversation)

Formal: We recognize the product's shortcomings and will implement fixes.
Neutral: A shortcoming of the experiment was the small sample size.
Casual: The show kind of falls short in the finale.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Splitting compounds is a common error. Check these pairs and copy the correct form.

everyday (one word) vs every day (two words)
sometime (adverb) vs some time (amount of time)
all right (standard) vs alright (informal, nonstandard)
coming up short (verb phrase meaning "fail") vs shortcoming (noun meaning "flaw")

Wrong: I read everyday.
Right: I read every day.
Wrong: We might have alright results.
Right: We might have all right results. (or: acceptable results)
Wrong: They came up shortcoming the target.
Right: They came up short of the target.

Memory tricks: quick fixes that stick

Replacement test: if "a limitation" fits, use shortcoming (one word).
Autocorrect: map "short coming" → "shortcoming" in your editor.
Tone check: if you want informal language, use "falls short" or "lets you down" instead.

Usage test: "a limitation of the plan" → "a shortcoming of the plan" (one word).

FAQ

Is "short coming" ever correct?

Not when you mean a flaw or limitation. "Short coming" is almost always an incorrect split. The two words can appear separately only in different grammatical roles (for example, "The skirt is short" and "coming soon").

Can I hyphenate it as "short-coming"?

No. Modern usage prefers shortcoming as a single word. Hyphenation is archaic and unnecessary in contemporary writing.

What if I mean "not long enough" or "fail to meet"?

Use "too short" or "not long enough" for physical length. Use "fall short" or "come up short" for failing to meet expectations. These convey different meanings than the noun shortcoming.

How do I soften criticism in performance reviews?

Choose "area for improvement" or "one area to address" instead of bluntly listing shortcomings. Pair feedback with examples and a development plan.

How can I stop making this mistake automatically?

Add an autocorrect entry ("short coming" → "shortcoming"), enable a grammar checker that flags split compounds, and use the one-line test: if "a limitation" fits, merge the words.

Quick fix before you send

If you're unsure, paste your sentence into a grammar tool or run a find-and-replace for "short coming" → "shortcoming." A small editor rule will prevent this mistake in emails, reports, and essays.