Question: “Jordan: Keep up the good work with your grammar column. If I don’t read anything else in Current, I read your article. Comment on “setup” vs “set up.” I believe I know the difference, and I see it used (what I think is) incorrectly many times.” (Peter Fruehman)
Answer: Thanks for writing in, Peter. The theme for the column lately seems to be noun versus verb forms, and this question fits right into that.
“Setup,” as you probably know, is a noun. It has a lot of wordy definitions, the best being “the manner in which the elements or components of a machine, apparatus or system are arranged, designed or assembled.” More simply, “setup” is how things are put together: “The setup for prom looks great.” If you’re a fan of noir or mobster documentaries, you know that “setup” can also mean something done “by deceit or trickery in order to compromise or frame someone.” In certain circumstances (computers come to mind) “setup” can also be used as an adjective: “Run the setup program.” “I lost my setup disk.”
“Set up,” on the other hand, is a verb through and through. It means to “establish, cause, lay plans for or place in an upright position.” You can set up a lawn chair. You can set up your child with a college fund. Eating breakfast can set you up for a successful day. Etc. If “setup” is the way things are put together, “set up” is actually doing the putting together. “Set up,” like “setup,” can also mean “to put someone else into a compromising situation by deceit or trickery.” It’s simply the verb form.
One last note: “Set-up” is not a word. So don’t use it.
Thanks for writing in (and reading). Keep those grammar questions coming!