Vice President vs. Vice-President – Which is Correct?
Both “vice president” and “vice-president” are valid spellings. In contemporary American English, the open form, “vice president,” is generally preferred, especially for the officeholder’s title. The hyphenated form appears in some style traditions, older writing, and compound modifiers. Check your publication’s style guide, then use one form consistently throughout your document.
vice president or vice-president – Which is Correct?
Both vice president and vice-president are legitimate spellings of the same compound noun. The main difference is stylistic rather than semantic.
In contemporary American English, vice president is usually the preferred form, particularly when referring to a government official, corporate officer, or elected officeholder. Major modern style guides commonly leave the phrase open when it functions as a noun.
Vice-president is also found in dictionaries, newspapers, official documents, and varieties of English influenced by British usage. Some writers and organizations retain the hyphen as part of their house style. The hyphen may also appear in related compounds such as vice-president-elect, where several words work together as a single title or modifier.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the open-form default: when you are naming the person or office, write vice president unless a specific style guide tells you otherwise. Think of it like president preceded by a descriptive word, just as in company president.
Use the hyphenated version only when it is required by an organization’s style, a publication’s established convention, or a compound construction that needs extra clarity. The meaning does not change when the hyphen is added.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| vice president | Noun | A person who ranks immediately below a president | The vice president addressed the committee. |
| vice-president | Noun | The same office or position, written with a hyphen | The vice-president addressed the committee. |
How to Use vice president
Vice president is the standard open spelling in much contemporary American writing. It can refer to a political officeholder, a leader in a company or university, or any person who serves directly below a president.
As a common noun, it is lowercase unless it appears at the beginning of a sentence or is used as part of a formal name or title. When addressing someone directly or placing the title before a person’s name, capitalization depends on the applicable style guide.
Example 1: The vice president met with the foreign minister.
Example 2: Maya Chen was promoted to vice president of marketing.
Example 3: Vice President Harris delivered remarks after the meeting.
What are the different forms of vice president?
The usual plural is vice presidents, with the plural marker added to presidents. The phrase remains open in the plural form.
- Singular: vice president
- Plural: vice presidents
- Title before a name: Vice President Jordan Lee
- Related adjective: vice-presidential
The related adjective vice-presidential is normally hyphenated, as in vice-presidential debate or vice-presidential candidate. In a title such as vice president-elect, the hyphen connects president and elect because they function together as a compound expression.
Etymology of the word vice president
Vice comes from the Latin vicis, meaning “place,” “turn,” or “substitution.” In English compounds, it developed the sense of someone who acts in another person’s place or ranks immediately below that person. President comes from the Latin praesidens, meaning “one who presides.” Together, vice president means a person who serves as a deputy to a president.
How to Use vice-president
Vice-president has the same meaning and grammatical function as vice president. It is especially common in British English and in publications that follow a hyphenated spelling tradition. It also appears in some American institutional documents, historical texts, and organizational style guides.
When using this form, apply it consistently throughout a document. Do not alternate randomly between vice president and vice-president unless you are reproducing a quoted title or following different official names.
Example 1: The vice-president chaired the emergency session.
Example 2: She served as vice-president of the association for three years.
Example 3: The vice-president-elect will take office in January.
What are the different forms of vice-president?
The hyphenated form is a noun phrase, so its plural is formed by pluralizing president: vice-presidents. The related adjective is generally written vice-presidential.
- Singular: vice-president
- Plural: vice-presidents
- Title before a name: Vice-President Jordan Lee, when required by the chosen style
- Related adjective: vice-presidential
Etymology of the word vice-president
Vice-president has the same Latin-based origin as vice president. The hyphen is a later English spelling convention used to show that vice and president operate together as one compound title. The spelling difference does not represent a separate historical meaning.
Related Concepts
Understanding compound nouns, titles, and hyphenation makes it easier to choose between the open and hyphenated forms of this expression.
- Compound nouns: A compound noun combines two or more words to express one idea. Compound nouns may be written as separate words, hyphenated words, or single words, depending on established usage.
- Hyphenation: Hyphens can show that words belong together grammatically. Their use often depends on a dictionary, regional convention, or editorial style guide.
- Titles and capitalization: Formal titles are often capitalized before a person’s name but lowercased when used generally. For example, write “Vice President Lee” but usually “the vice president.”
- Compound modifiers: Several words may be joined or hyphenated when they jointly modify another noun. Examples include vice-presidential debate and vice-president-elect.
Examples from Media and Literature
The open and hyphenated forms appear in a range of real-world contexts. The following examples illustrate how the expression is commonly used.
- Political news: News reports often use the vice president when describing the duties, speeches, travel, and decisions of a national officeholder.
- Government documents: Official government biographies and press releases may capitalize Vice President when it appears as a formal title before a person’s name.
- Corporate writing: Annual reports commonly use phrases such as vice president of finance, vice president of operations, and executive vice president.
- Historical writing: Books and archival documents may use vice-president because older editorial conventions favored hyphenated compounds.
- Election coverage: Both vice president-elect and vice-president-elect can appear, depending on the publication’s preferred treatment of the title.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence. In some cases, both forms are grammatically possible, but select the form most commonly preferred in contemporary American English.
- The ______ announced a new economic initiative. (vice president / vice-president)
- She became ______ of the regional division. (vice president / vice-president)
- The ______ debate attracted millions of viewers. (vice-presidential / vice presidential)
- The ______ will begin serving after the inauguration. (vice president-elect / vice-president-elect)
- The organization’s style guide consistently uses ______ with a hyphen. (vice president / vice-president)
Answer Key
- vice president — This is the usual contemporary American spelling.
- vice president — The phrase functions as an open compound noun.
- vice-presidential — This established adjective is normally hyphenated.
- vice president-elect — The hyphen joins president and elect; some style guides may use vice-president-elect.
- vice-president — Follow the organization’s stated style consistently.
vice president Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Deputy | A person appointed to act on behalf of someone in a higher position. |
| Second-in-command | The person who ranks immediately below the leader. |
| Executive officer | A senior official responsible for helping manage an organization. |
| Assistant president | A person who assists a president, although the exact rank may differ by organization. |
vice-president Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Deputy | An appointed substitute or representative for a senior official. |
| Second-in-command | The individual directly subordinate to the principal leader. |
| Number two | An informal expression for the second-highest-ranking person. |
| Senior deputy | A high-ranking assistant or representative within an organization. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “vice president” or “vice-president” correct?
Both forms are correct. However, vice president is generally preferred in contemporary American English, while vice-president remains accepted in some style systems and varieties of English.
Question 2: Should “vice president” be capitalized?
Usually, lowercase the phrase when it is used generally: “The vice president spoke.” Capitalize it when it appears as a formal title before a name or when a specific institutional style requires capitalization: “Vice President Lee spoke.”
Question 3: What is the plural of “vice president”?
The plural is vice presidents. For the hyphenated spelling, the plural is vice-presidents. The plural marker belongs on president, not on vice.
Conclusion
Vice president and vice-president have the same meaning, but the open spelling is normally the safest choice for contemporary American writing. Use the hyphenated form when a regional or organizational style guide calls for it, and remain consistent. Pro Tip: Consistent title spelling signals careful editing and protects your professional reputation.
