Markup vs. Mark Up
“Markup” is a noun for an increase added to a price. “Mark up” is the two-word phrasal verb used for increasing a price and, in some contexts, adding notes or marks to something.
Use “markup” for the noun and “mark up” for the verb.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| noun naming an added amount, annotation layer, or markup as a thing | markup | Use the closed noun. |
| verb meaning increase a price or add marks/annotations | mark up | Use the two-word phrasal verb. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the expression functioning as a noun?
If yes: Use “markup.”
If no: Use “mark up” when it is the verb.
Caveat: The noun can have domain-specific senses; the word-boundary distinction still depends on grammatical role.
Examples
The retailer added a 20 percent markup.
The closed form is a noun naming the added amount.
Please mark up the draft before the review.
The two-word form is the verb.
They marked up the price before the sale.
The inflected verb confirms the two-word construction.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “mark up” when the expression functions as a verb; use the documented noun form for the person, thing, event, result, or modifier.
Fast Test
If tense or inflection works naturally—such as a past or -ing form—you are using the verb and should keep “mark up” as separate words.
Variant Boundary
Cambridge documents the closed noun “markup” and the two-word phrasal verb “mark up”; do not merge the grammatical roles.
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.
- MARKUP — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Closed noun “markup” for an amount added to price
- MARK SOMETHING UP — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Two-word phrasal verb “mark up” for increasing price or annotating