Is Goodnight One Word or Two? Good Night vs. Goodnight Explained

Good night is usually written as two words. It is the safest spelling when saying goodbye in the evening, going to bed, or using a phrase such as “Have a good night.”

Goodnight is also accepted by some dictionaries as a one-word farewell. It is especially common in informal messages and expressions such as “goodnight kiss.”

Both spellings can therefore be correct, but the right choice depends on how the expression is used.

Is Goodnight One Word or Two?

Major dictionaries do not all present the expression in the same way. Merriam-Webster and Cambridge list the farewell as good night, while Oxford lists goodnight and gives good night as an alternative.

For most everyday writing, the following guidance works well:

Spelling	Use	Example
Good night	A standard evening or bedtime farewell	Good night. See you tomorrow.
Good night	A noun phrase describing a night	We had a good night at the theater.
Goodnight	An accepted alternative farewell	Goodnight, everyone!
Goodnight	Part of a compound expression	She gave him a goodnight kiss.

When you are uncertain, choose good night. The two-word spelling is widely accepted and works in nearly every context.

When to Write “Good Night” as Two Words

Use good night when saying goodbye to someone late in the evening or before going to sleep.

• Good night. Sleep well.
• She said good night and went upstairs.
• Good night, Daniel. I’ll call you tomorrow.
• We wished our guests good night at the door.

The expression is similar to good morning and good afternoon, which are also normally written as two words.

You must also use two words when good simply describes the noun night. In these sentences, the phrase is not functioning as a fixed farewell.

• We had a good night at the concert.
• It is a good night for a walk.
• I hope you get a good night’s sleep.
• Have a good night!

Writing have a goodnight would be incorrect because night is a separate noun modified by the adjective good.

When Is “Goodnight” One Word?

Goodnight can be written as one word when it is used as a farewell. This spelling is common in casual texts, bedtime messages, fictional dialogue, and personal notes.

• Goodnight! I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
• Goodnight, everyone.
• She whispered, “Goodnight,” before closing the door.
• Goodnight, love. Sweet dreams.

The same sentences could use good night instead. The meaning would not change:

• Good night! I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
• Good night, everyone.

The one-word spelling can feel slightly more casual or affectionate, but it is not limited to romantic messages. It is simply an accepted spelling variation when the expression functions as a farewell.

Goodnight also appears in compound expressions connected with bedtime or an evening farewell:

• a goodnight kiss
• a goodnight hug
• a goodnight message
• a goodnight story

It can also follow verbs such as say and kiss:

• She kissed the children goodnight.
• He called to say goodnight.
• I forgot to text her goodnight.

Is “Good-Night” Hyphenated?

The hyphenated spelling good-night sometimes appears in older writing or in publications that follow a particular house style. However, a hyphen is rarely needed in modern everyday English.

When the expression stands alone as a farewell, use either:

• Good night!
• Goodnight!

Do not normally write:

• Good-night!

Modern compound expressions are also commonly written without a hyphen:

• goodnight kiss
• goodnight message
• goodnight hug

Unless a style guide specifically requires the hyphen, good night or goodnight will usually be the better choice.

Good Night or Goodnight in a Text?

Either spelling is suitable in a text message. Good night is the more traditional form, while goodnight often feels slightly more relaxed.

For example:

• Good night! I hope you sleep well.
• Goodnight! Talk tomorrow.

Personal preference matters more than formality in a casual message. However, phrases such as have a good night must still be written as separate words.

Capitalization and Punctuation

Capitalize the expression when it begins a sentence or stands alone:

• Good night. See you in the morning.
• Goodnight, everyone!

Use lowercase when it appears later in a sentence:

• She said good night before leaving.
• He kissed his daughter goodnight.

When speaking directly to someone, place a comma before the person’s name or title:

• Good night, Mom.
• Goodnight, Olivia.
• Good night, everyone.

Good Night or Good Evening?

Good evening is normally used as a greeting, while good night is usually a farewell.

You might say good evening when arriving at a restaurant or meeting someone after sunset:

“Good evening. It’s nice to see you.”

You would say good night when leaving or preparing to sleep:

“Thank you for dinner. Good night.”

Final Answer

Good night is normally written as two words and is the safest choice in standard English. Use it when saying goodbye in the evening, going to bed, or writing phrases such as have a good night and a good night’s sleep.

Goodnight is also an accepted one-word spelling when used as a farewell or in expressions such as goodnight kiss. It is especially common in texts and informal writing.

Good-night with a hyphen is uncommon and is rarely necessary today.