When you’re describing the latest news or ensuring your software has the newest features, do you write up to date or up-to-date? It’s a small difference—just two hyphens—but it completely changes how the phrase functions in a sentence. Getting it right is key to clear and professional communication.
What’s the difference between up to date and up-to-date?
Please bring me up to date on the project’s progress. (Adverb phrase)
This is the most up-to-date report we have. (Adjective)
I need an up to date calendar.
Can you bring me up-to-date?
The rule for this pair is consistent and depends on their role in the sentence. The hyphen makes all the difference.
- Up to date (three words, no hyphens) acts as an adverbial phrase. It answers the question “how?” or “to what extent?” something is informed or current. It always comes after the noun or verb it modifies.
- Up-to-date (with hyphens) is a compound adjective. It is used to describe a noun and always comes before the noun it is modifying.
Sentence examples with “up to date” / “up-to-date”
| Grammatical Form | Example Sentences |
|---|---|
| Up to date (Adverb phrase) |
Her report is completely up to date.
We need to keep our software up to date. He brought the team up to date on the latest developments. |
| Up-to-date (Adjective) |
She consulted the most up-to-date map available.
The company uses up-to-date technology. An up-to-date list of clients is essential for this project. |
A simple test: If the phrase comes **before** a noun (like “report,” “map,” or “technology”), use the hyphens. If it comes **after** a verb (like “is,” “keep,” or “brought”), use the three separate words.
Similar words
| Form | Synonyms |
|---|---|
| up-to-date (adjective) | current, modern, contemporary, latest, recent |
| bring up to date (verb phrase) | inform, update, brief, notify, advise |
Read about other confusing words
| Word Choice & Usage | More Writing Tips |
|---|---|
|
A lot, Allot, or Alot A Part vs. Apart |
Accept and Except Advice or Advise |
Worksheet
We need to keep our records ______.
The magazine provides ______ news on current events.
Please bring the team ______ on the latest changes.
This is the most ______ information we have on the subject.
Is your software fully ______?
FAQs
They mean the same thing (current), but they are used differently. “Up to date” (three words) is an adverb phrase used after a verb. “Up-to-date” (hyphenated) is an adjective used before a noun.
Use hyphens when the phrase is describing a noun and comes before it. For example, “an up-to-date report.” The hyphens connect the words to show they are acting as a single adjective.
Use three separate words when the phrase comes after the verb it is modifying. For example, “His software is up to date.”
No, “uptodate” as a single, unhyphenated word is not a recognized or standard spelling in English. You should always use either the three-word phrase or the hyphenated adjective.
Sources
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Merriam-Webster, Definition of “up-to-date”.
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Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, “up to date”.
Yash, D. "How to Use Up to Date or Up-to-Date (Explained)." Grammarflex, Sep 4, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/use-up-to-date/.
