the + headquarter

If you wrote "The headquarter of," change it to "the headquarters of." The noun is normally written as one word with an -s; "headquarter" is a verb (to headquarter a unit) and not the noun you want.

Quick answer

Use "the headquarters of" (or simply "headquarters") for the main office. Avoid "the headquarter of."

"Headquarters" is the standard noun form and normally carries plural form.
"Headquarter" is a verb: a unit can be headquarter-ed somewhere (rare), but you won't use that form for "the main office."
Check the whole sentence for subject-verb agreement after you fix the word.

Core explanation

"Headquarters" is the established noun for an organization's main office. It looks plural and often takes a plural verb, but writers sometimes treat it as a singular location. Both patterns appear in usage, so choose the verb form that matches whether you mean the building/unit (singular) or the people/work inside it (plural).

Grammar and subject-verb agreement

Standard plural use: "The headquarters of the company are in New York."
Singular-location use (common and acceptable): "The headquarters is in New York." Use this when you speak of a single site or address.
When you use a modifier like "the company's headquarters," match the verb to your intended meaning: people/staff = plural verb; location/unit = singular verb.

Hyphenation and spacing

No hyphen and no space: write the noun as one word with an -s. Do not split it into "head quarter" or "head-quarter."

Correct noun: headquarters
Correct verb: to headquarter (e.g., "The unit was headquartered in Chicago.")
Wrong: head quarter, the headquarter of

Real usage: examples by context

Here are natural sentences that show how to use "headquarters" correctly in different settings.

Work

Wrong: The headquarter of the company is in London.
Right: The company's headquarters are in London.
Wrong: Our headquarter moved last year.
Right: Our headquarters moved last year.
The headquarters is located downtown, so plan deliveries around that address. (location-focused singular)

School / university

Wrong: The headquarter of the student union is on campus.
Right: The student union's headquarters are on campus.
Wrong: The debate club set up its headquarter in the library.
Right: The debate club is headquartered in the library. (verb) or The debate club's headquarters are in the library. (noun)
The university's research headquarters is next to the science park. (location-focused)

Casual / everyday

Wrong: My headquarter for the weekend is my parents' house.
Right: My headquarters for the weekend is my parents' house. (informal, treating it as a single base)
Wrong: They're packing up the headquarter before leaving.
Right: They're packing up the headquarters before leaving.
We made someone's garage our hackathon headquarters for the day.

Wrong vs right examples you can copy

Six quick pairs you can paste into your drafts.

Wrong: The headquarter of the project is in the old building.
Right: The project's headquarters are in the old building.
Wrong: The headquarter moved last month.
Right: The headquarters moved last month.
Wrong: Is that the headquarter address?
Right: Is that the headquarters address?
Wrong: We will headquarter the team in Boston.
Right: We will headquarter the team in Boston. (verb - ok)
Wrong: The headquarter of the chain was impressive.
Right: The chain's headquarters was impressive. (location emphasis)
Wrong: Send the memo to the headquarter.
Right: Send the memo to the headquarters.

How to fix your own sentence (quick rewrite templates)

Replace or rephrase depending on clarity and tone. Read the whole sentence after changing the word.

Direct swap: "The headquarter of X" → "the headquarters of X"
If it sounds stiff: "X's headquarters" (shorter, common)
If you meant the verb: "headquartered in X" (e.g., "The nonprofit is headquartered in Seattle.")

Original: This plan is the headquarter of our team.
Rewrite: This plan is the headquarters for our team. or This plan centers the team at headquarters.
Original: The assignment feels the headquarter of right now.
Rewrite: The assignment feels like it belongs at headquarters. or The assignment is a headquarters-level task.
Original: Is that the headquarter for the event?
Rewrite: Is that the headquarters for the event?

A simple memory trick

Picture "quarters" as rooms or living spaces. "Headquarters" literally means the chief quarters - more than one quarter - so the word keeps the -s. If you can imagine rooms or offices, you'll reach for "headquarters."

Think "quarters" = rooms = plural.
If you need a verb, use "headquarter" (to base or locate a unit).
When in doubt, replace with "main office" to check whether you need singular/plural agreement.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Fixing one split or form error often exposes others nearby. Scan for other mixed forms.

Data base → database
Vice president vs vice-president (standard is closed: vice president)
Head office vs headquarters (both fine, but consistent usage matters)
Using a verb form where you meant a noun (e.g., "headquarter" vs "headquarters")

FAQ

Is "the headquarter of" ever correct?

Almost always not when you mean the main office. The noun is "headquarters." "Headquarter" can be a verb, but that's a different usage.

Should I write "headquarters is" or "headquarters are"?

Either can be correct. Use "are" when you emphasize the people or operations, and "is" when you treat the headquarters as a single location or entity.

Can I drop "the" and just write "headquarters"?

Yes. You can write "Headquarters moved downtown" or "The headquarters moved downtown." Choose whichever fits your sentence rhythm.

When should I use "headquartered"?

Use the verb "headquartered" when describing where an organization is based: "The company is headquartered in Berlin."

Will spellcheck catch this mistake?

Not always. Spellcheck may not flag "headquarter" if it's used as an unfamiliar verb; check sentence context and replace with "headquarters" when you mean the noun.

Check the whole sentence before you send it

Small form errors stand out less in isolation than they do in a full sentence. After you swap "headquarter" for "headquarters," reread for verb agreement and natural flow.

Use the checker widget above if you want a quick sentence-level second look.