Hand-off vs. Handoff vs. Hand Off
“Hand off” is the phrasal verb for passing or transferring something or responsibility. “Handoff” is a noun for the transfer or event, and Cambridge also documents “hand-off” as a noun spelling, so the noun boundary is not a universal closed-versus-hyphenated error rule.
Use “hand off” for the verb. “Handoff” is an established noun, and Cambridge also records the hyphenated noun “hand-off.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| If you mean / need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| the action of passing or transferring something | hand off | It is the phrasal verb. |
| the transfer/event as a noun | handoff / hand-off | Both noun spellings are documented by Cambridge. |
Further guidance
Core difference
Use two words for the verb: “We will hand off the task.” Use a noun spelling when naming the transfer itself.
Fast Test
If the expression can be inflected as “handed off” or “handing off,” it is the two-word verb.
Variant Boundary
Cambridge lists closed “handoff” and also “hand-off” as a noun variant; house style can therefore choose between documented noun spellings.
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.
- HANDOFF — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Noun spelling and meanings for “handoff,” including the documented hand-off variant
- HAND OFF — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Phrasal-verb senses for “hand off,” including transferring responsibility or an item