Wrap up vs. Wrap-up – Which is Correct?
Both “wrap up” and “wrap-up” are correct, but they serve different grammatical roles. Use wrap up as a verb meaning finish, conclude, or cover something. Use wrap-up as a noun or adjective for a conclusion or summary. The hyphen signals the compact noun or modifier form in standard written English usage.
Wrap Up or Wrap-Up – Which is Correct?
Wrap up and wrap-up are both correct forms, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence. Wrap up is usually a phrasal verb meaning to finish an activity, complete a discussion, or cover something in material. Wrap-up is generally a noun meaning a conclusion or summary, or an adjective describing something related to a conclusion.
The difference is primarily grammatical. When the phrase describes an action, write it as two words: “Let’s wrap up the meeting.” When it names a concluding section, event, or summary, use the hyphenated form: “The presenter gave a brief wrap-up.” The adjective also takes a hyphen before a noun: “She prepared wrap-up remarks.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the action-versus-thing test. If someone is doing the finishing, use wrap up: “We need to wrap up.” If you can replace the expression with “summary,” “conclusion,” or “final,” use wrap-up: “Read the wrap-up” or “the wrap-up report.” The two-word verb performs the action; the hyphenated form labels the result or type of material.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| wrap up | Phrasal verb | To finish, conclude, or cover | “Let’s wrap up the call.” |
| wrap-up | Noun or adjective | A conclusion, summary, or final-related item | “Here is the project wrap-up.” |
How to Use Wrap Up
Wrap up is a phrasal verb. It can mean to bring an event, conversation, task, or period to an end. It can also mean to cover or enclose something, such as wrapping up a gift. In professional communication, it is common and natural, although conclude or complete may sound more formal.
The verb can be transitive or intransitive. You can wrap up something specific, such as a meeting or report, or simply say that an activity is ending: “The conference will wrap up at five.” With a pronoun, place the pronoun between the verb and particle: “Please wrap it up,” not generally “Please wrap up it.”
Example 1: We should wrap up the meeting before the next presentation begins.
Example 2: The editor asked Maya to wrap up the article with a concise conclusion.
Example 3: He wrapped up the gift before taking it to the party.
Etymology of the Word Wrap Up
Wrap comes from a Germanic word associated with covering or enclosing something. English speakers later extended the literal idea of covering an object to the figurative idea of bringing an activity to a close. The phrasal verb wrap up developed from this sense of enclosing or finishing something.
Because wrap relates to covering and finishing, compare it with Wrap vs. Rap when checking similar-sounding words.
How to Use Wrap-Up
Wrap-up is most often a noun. It refers to a final summary, concluding statement, or closing event. It can describe the last part of a meeting, article, broadcast, project, or presentation. It is also used as an adjective before another noun when it identifies something connected with the conclusion of an activity.
As a noun, it often follows an article or possessive determiner: “a wrap-up,” “the wrap-up,” or “our wrap-up.” As an adjective, it usually appears directly before a noun: “wrap-up meeting,” “wrap-up report,” or “wrap-up discussion.”
Example 1: The newsletter includes a wrap-up of the week’s most important developments.
Example 2: We scheduled a wrap-up meeting for Friday afternoon.
Example 3: Her final remarks provided an effective wrap-up to the training session.
What Are the Different Forms of Wrap-Up?
As a noun, the plural form is wrap-ups: “The magazine published several tournament wrap-ups.” The hyphen remains before the plural ending. As an adjective, wrap-up does not change for number: “a wrap-up report” and “several wrap-up reports.” Do not normally write wrapup in standard edited English when referring to this noun or adjective.
Etymology of the Word Wrap-Up
The noun and adjective wrap-up developed from the phrasal verb wrap up. English commonly turns phrasal verbs into compound nouns, and the hyphen helps readers recognize the resulting compound. The term reflects the figurative sense of gathering final points together and bringing an activity to a close.
Related Concepts
Understanding phrasal verbs and compound words makes the distinction between wrap up and wrap-up easier to recognize.
- Phrasal verbs: A phrasal verb combines a verb with a particle, such as wrap up, carry on, or turn in. The combination often has a meaning that differs from the verb alone.
- Compound nouns: A compound noun combines words to name a person, place, object, or idea. Wrap-up functions as a compound noun when it means a final summary or conclusion.
- Compound adjectives: A hyphenated compound can modify a noun, as in wrap-up report. The hyphen shows that the words work together as one adjective.
- Hyphenation: Hyphens can clarify how words function in a sentence. They are especially useful when a phrase appears before a noun as a single modifier.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how writers and speakers use the two forms in familiar media contexts:
- News coverage: A broadcast may end with a “wrap-up of the day’s headlines,” where wrap-up is a noun naming the summary.
- Television production: A production manager might announce that the crew will “wrap up filming” after the final scene, using wrap up as a verb.
- Sports journalism: A newspaper may publish a “playoff wrap-up” that summarizes the key results and performances.
- Business reporting: A company newsletter may include a “year-end wrap-up” featuring milestones, financial results, and upcoming plans.
- Film and literature discussions: A reviewer may write, “The final chapter wraps up the mystery,” using the verb to describe how the story concludes.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence: wrap up or wrap-up.
- Let’s ______ this discussion and move on to the next topic.
- The website published a detailed ______ of the election results.
- Our ______ meeting will take place after the final inspection.
- Could you ______ the package before you leave?
- The host gave a short ______ at the end of the program.
Answer Key
- wrap up — It is a verb meaning finish.
- wrap-up — It is a noun meaning summary.
- wrap-up — It is a hyphenated adjective modifying “meeting.”
- wrap up — It is a verb meaning cover or enclose.
- wrap-up — It is a noun naming a concluding statement.
Wrap Up Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Conclude | To bring something to an end, often in a formal context |
| Finish | To complete an activity or task |
| Complete | To bring something to its required endpoint |
| Close | To bring an event, discussion, or period to an end |
| Summarize | To state the main points briefly |
Wrap-Up Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Summary | A brief statement of the main points |
| Conclusion | The final part of an argument, event, or discussion |
| Recap | A concise review of information already presented |
| Review | A general examination or account of completed events |
| Closing statement | A final comment or set of remarks |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “wrap up” one word or two words?
As a verb, it is written as two words: wrap up. For example, “We need to wrap up the meeting.”
Question 2: Is “wrap-up” hyphenated?
Yes, when it is used as a noun or adjective, the standard form is usually wrap-up. Examples include “a project wrap-up” and “wrap-up comments.”
Question 3: Is “wrapup” correct?
Wrapup is not the usual standard form in edited American English. Use wrap up for the verb and wrap-up for the noun or adjective.
Question 4: Which is correct: “wrap up meeting” or “wrap-up meeting”?
Use wrap-up meeting. The hyphen shows that wrap-up functions as a compound adjective modifying meeting.
Question 5: Can “wrap up” mean summarize?
Yes. In contexts such as “She wrapped up the presentation,” it can mean that she concluded the presentation, often by giving a final summary.
Conclusion
Wrap up is the two-word phrasal verb used for an action: finishing, concluding, or covering something. Wrap-up is the hyphenated noun or adjective used for a summary, conclusion, or final-related item. Pro Tip: Choosing the correct form in professional writing improves clarity and signals careful command of standard English.
