Kickoff vs. Kick Off: When to Use Each Spelling
Kickoff is the noun and adjective spelling for the start of something; kick off is the verb phrase meaning to begin or to start play. Split them and you change the grammar, not the meaning.
People mash them together in texts and tweets because autocorrect rarely flags “kickoff” and it looks cleaner. On the pitch, though, the referee still shouts, “Let’s kick off!”—a reminder that the space keeps the action alive.
Key Differences
Kickoff (one word) is the scheduled start of a game or campaign. Kick off (two words) is the action: you kick off a meeting, a party, or a soccer ball. Grammar flips, context stays.
Which One Should You Choose?
Writing a calendar invite? “Kickoff meeting at 9.” Sending a rallying Slack? “Let’s kick off at 9.” Match the formality: solid for labels, split for commands.
Examples and Daily Life
“The Super Bowl Kickoff is at 6.” / “We’ll kick off the call once everyone joins.” Same event, different roles—like Netflix versus binge-watching it.
Is “kick-off” with a hyphen ever correct?
British style still likes the hyphen—“the kick-off whistle”—but US English drops it in favor of the solid form.
Can I say “Let’s kickoff now”?
Only if you’re naming the moment (“Let’s kickoff now” as a label). Otherwise, use “kick off” to keep the verb intact.
Does the same rule apply to “start up” and “startup”?
Exactly: startup is the noun, start up the verb phrase. Silicon Valley versus the action of launching.