“Company wide” and “companywide” can both be found in English, but companywide is the preferred modern spelling in most general writing. It is an adjective or adverb meaning something that involves, affects or applies to an entire company. For example you can say “The companywide policy applies to all employees.”
The hyphenated form company wide is also understandable and appears in some writing styles, especially when writers want to make the word structure immediately clear. However, if you are choosing one form for professional, academic or general purpose writing, companywide is usually the safer choice. The important point is to use your chosen style consistently throughout a document.
Quick Answer
Companywide is generally the preferred spelling when the word means “throughout the entire company” or “affecting the whole company.” Company wide is also used but the closed form is increasingly common in modern English.
Why People Confuse Company Wide and Companywide
The confusion comes from the way English combines words with suffixes such as -wide.
Examples include:
- nationwide
- worldwide
- statewide
- industrywide
- organizationwide
- companywide
Because these words can look unusual when written as one word, writers sometimes add a hyphen:
- company wide
- industry wide
- organization wide
Both forms may appear in published writing but style preferences can differ.
Companywide
Companywide is written as one word.
It means affecting, involving or applying to the entire company.
Examples
- The companywide meeting begins at 9 a.m.
- We introduced a companywide training program.
- The new policy will be implemented companywide.
- A companywide email was sent to all employees.
- The companywide initiative improved communication.
When to Use Companywide
Use companywide when you want the standard closed form in modern professional writing.
It works as both an adjective and an adverb.
As an adjective:
The companywide policy starts next month.
As an adverb:
The policy was implemented companywide.
Company Wide
Company wide is the hyphenated form.
It has the same basic meaning: throughout the company or involving the entire company.
Examples
- The company wide meeting was postponed.
- We announced a company wide policy.
- The company wide campaign begins Monday.
- A company wide training session was organized.
- The changes will be introduced company wide.
The hyphen makes the two parts visually connected and can make the meaning immediately clear.
Company Wide vs Companywide
| Form | Meaning | Usage | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| companywide | Throughout the entire company | Modern general and professional writing | Preferred |
| company wide | Throughout the entire company | Also used in many styles | Acceptable |
| company wide | Throughout the company | Usually less preferred as a fixed modifier | Avoid in most cases |
When to Use Each
Use “Companywide” When:
Choose companywide when writing:
- Business reports
- Professional emails
- Company policies
- Articles
- Academic writing
- Internal announcements
- General business content
Example:
The companywide policy applies to every department.
Use “Company Wide” When:
Use company-wide if it matches the style guide or editorial convention you are following.
For example:
The company wide initiative was successful.
If your organization consistently uses hyphenated compounds, maintaining that style can be more important than switching between forms.
10+ Examples
- The companywide meeting will take place on Friday.
- Management announced a companywide policy.
- A companywide survey was conducted last month.
- The training program is now available companywide.
- The companywide announcement was sent by email.
- Employees participated in a companywide safety campaign.
- The new system will be introduced companywide.
- The companywide initiative received strong support.
- We need a companywide solution to this problem.
- The companywide policy affects every department.
- The changes were communicated companywide.
- A companywide meeting was scheduled for next week.
Common Mistakes
1. Writing “Company wide”
The company wide policy was announced.
This open form is generally less suitable when companywide is being used as an established compound modifier.
Better:
The companywide policy was announced.
2. Switching Between Forms
Avoid using both forms randomly in the same document.
For example:
The companywide meeting was followed by a company wide survey.
There is no major meaning difference, but inconsistent spelling can make your writing look less polished.
3. Assuming the Hyphen Is Always Required
Not every compound containing wide needs a hyphen.
Words such as worldwide, nationwide and companywide are commonly written as closed compounds.
Memory Trick
Think of companywide like worldwide.
If you write:
worldwide
then you can remember:
companywide
Both describe something that extends across an entire area or group.
Company + wide = companywide
American vs British English
There is no major difference in meaning between companywide and company-wide based simply on American versus British English.
The choice is more closely related to dictionary usage, editorial style and organizational style guides.
Modern English commonly uses closed compounds ending in wide, including:
- worldwide
- nationwide
- statewide
- companywide
- industrywide
However, hyphenated forms can still appear in edited publications and professional documents.
Similar Words
Several words follow a similar pattern:
- Worldwide — throughout the world
- Nationwide — throughout a nation
- Statewide — throughout a state
- Industrywide — throughout an industry
- Organizationwide — throughout an organization
- Department wide — affecting an entire department
- Enterprise wide — affecting an entire enterprise
Notice that some compounds are normally closed, while others may commonly retain a hyphen depending on style.
Final Verdict
Companywide is generally the best choice when you need one form for modern professional or general English.
Company wide is also understandable and can be acceptable when required by a particular style guide.
If you are unsure which one to choose, use:
companywide
Best example:
The new policy will be implemented companywide.
FAQs
Is companywide one word?
Yes. Companywide is commonly written as one word and is the preferred form in many modern writing contexts.
Is company wide grammatically correct?
Yes. Company wide is an established hyphenated form and can be correct, particularly when following a specific editorial style.
Is company wide two words correct?
It is generally not the preferred spelling when the phrase functions as the established compound companywide.
Should I write companywide or company wide in a business email?
Companywide is a safe choice for most business emails. However, follow your organization’s style guide if it specifies the hyphenated form.
Is companywide an adjective?
Yes. For example:
The companywide policy affects all employees.
It can also function as an adverb:
The policy was adopted companywide.
What is the difference between companywide and company wide?
There is essentially no difference in meaning. Both mean throughout or affecting the entire company. The main difference is spelling and style.
Which is more professional: companywide or company wide?
Companywide is generally the cleaner modern choice, but company wide is not inherently unprofessional. Consistency with your organization’s style is important.
Remember This
Companywide = affecting or involving the entire company.
If you want the safest modern form, remember:
Companywide is one word.
Conclusion
Companywide and company wide have the same basic meaning: something that affects, involves or applies to an entire company. Both forms can be encountered in English but companywide is generally the preferred modern spelling.
For professional writing, reports, emails and general communication, companywide is usually the simplest choice. If your organization or publication uses company wide, that form can also be retained for consistency.
