English UsageComparison guide
Ad Hoc vs. Adhoc
The established English expression is “ad hoc,” written as two words. Cambridge records it for something created or arranged for a particular purpose or immediate need; this guide does not merge it into the closed form “adhoc.”
Use “ad hoc” as two words: “an ad hoc committee” or “we handled the request ad hoc.”
Key details
Core Meaningfor a particular purpose or immediate need
Spacingtwo words
Standard Formad hoc
Further guidance
Boundary
Do not create a universal closed-form rule from brand names, identifiers, or technical tokens that happen to use “adhoc.”
Form
Cambridge lists “ad hoc” as the dictionary form.
Use
It can modify a noun and is also recorded adverbially in American English.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Ad hoc — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Dictionary form, meaning, and adjective/adverb use