Whether to use “birdcage” as one word or “bird cage” as two words is a common conundrum that writers face. Both versions refer to an enclosure used to contain birds as pets, typically made of wire or metal bars. So which spelling is correct: birdcage or bird cage? Let’s take a closer look at the nuances between these two spellings.
Quick Answer
Both “birdcage” and “bird cage” are technically correct spellings. “Birdcage” is more common and preferred in formal writing and published works. “Bird cage” is more conversational and often used in informal writing contexts. Some style guides may prescribe one spelling over the other, but both are commonly understood by readers.
“Birdcage” – The Preferred Single Word Spelling
“Birdcage” as one word is the more dominant and accepted spelling, especially in published, edited materials. Here are some of the main reasons why “birdcage” is preferred:
- The single word spelling treats “birdcage” as a compound noun (two words that combine to form a single concept). This follows a convention in English of joining words to denote unified meanings.
- “Birdcage” has been established through common usage over time. Most dictionaries and style guides list “birdcage” as the standard spelling.
- In edited publications like books, newspapers, and magazines, “birdcage” is almost invariably the spelling used.
- On the web, “birdcage” is used about 5 times more frequently than “bird cage” according to Google Ngram data.
- Many authorities on writing such as The Chicago Manual of Style recommend spelling it as one word.
Unless there are specific reasons to spell it as two words, “birdcage” is the safest choice in formal or published writing contexts. It has become the convention for this particular compound noun.
“Bird cage” – An Informal Variant
Spelling it as two words, “bird cage,” does occur and is not technically wrong grammatically. Here are some cases where you may see or use “bird cage”:
- In conversational English, idiomatic speech may treat compound nouns as separate words more often (“car pool” instead of “carpool” for example).
- Creative or poetic writing may use two word phrasings for stylistic impact.
- As an intentional misspelling to indicate casual tone or colloquial speech in writing.
- In regional dialects that tend not to merge compound word spellings.
- When writers are unaware of or forget the more standard single word spelling.
These factors lend the “bird cage” spelling an informal or conversational tone. Formal writing would typically use “birdcage,” but either way the meaning is clear from context.
Historical Background
The earliest known uses of this word in the 16th century used the two word spelling “bird cage.” Over time, the spelling converged into the compound form “birdcage.” These types of compound word fusions are common linguistic evolutions in English. Similar examples are words like “blackbird,” “cubbyhole,” and “keyboard” which all started out as two words before being joined into one.
The first known use of “birdcage” as one word dates back to around 1830. Its use grew steadily over the 1800s and 1900s. While “bird cage” persisted in spoken language, published writing solidified “birdcage” as the standard spelling.
Grammar and Part of Speech
Grammatically, “birdcage” is a compound noun – two nouns joined to form a more specific term. The individual words “bird” and “cage” function as the noun components. Here are some examples of how it functions as a noun:
- The birdcage swayed in the breeze.
- I need to buy a larger birdcage for my parrot.
- The antique birdcage was made of wrought iron.
In these sentences, “birdcage” acts as the noun subject or noun object.
Style Guide Recommendations
Most major style guides such as The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style recommend spelling it as one word, “birdcage.” For example, The AP Stylebook advises:
“Birdcage is one word when referring to an enclosure for birds.”
However, some guides acknowledge that two-word versions of compound nouns are sometimes used conversationally or for emphasis. The Chicago Manual of Style notes:
“Compounds may also be written open (as two words) on occasion for stylistic reasons or when the term invites special attention.”
So while “birdcage” is considered the standard, stylistic considerations may sometimes warrant “bird cage” instead. Most guides emphasize clarity for the reader as the priority.
Usage in Published Works
In edited, published materials, “birdcage” overwhelmingly dominates as the spelling. Whether in literature, news publications, magazines, or academic journals, “birdcage” is the conventional choice. For example:
- “There was an antique birdcage in one corner of the room.” (Literature)
- “Experts recommend getting the largest birdcage possible for your companion parrot.” (Magazine/News Article)
- “The researchers tested how different types of birdcages impacted parakeet behavior.” (Academic Journal)
Published writing aims to follow standard conventions which point strongly toward the “birdcage” spelling. You are unlikely to encounter “bird cage” in an edited book, newspaper, research paper, etc. It appears occasionally for stylistic reasons, but “birdcage” predominates.
Usage in Informal Contexts
“Bird cage” is much more common in casual writing and speech. In unedited forums like social media, blogs, emails, and text messages, you will see the two-word version used regularly. For example:
- “Just bought my budgie a new bird cage!” (Social Media Post)
- “We need to clean the bird cage today, it’s getting messy.” (Spoken Conversation)
- “I found a nice vintage bird cage for cheap at a garage sale last weekend!” (Email)
In these informal registers, using “bird cage” instead of “birdcage” gives a conversational tone. Adherence to formal spelling conventions carries less importance than ease of communication. As long as meaning comes across clearly, either spelling works.
Regional Differences
Regional dialects can affect whether compound words are joined or not. Some linguistic groups are more likely to use open or hyphenated versions of certain nouns. For example, British English exhibits a general preference for open compound word spellings compared to American English spelling tendencies. These dialectal patterns may make “bird cage” seem more natural for some groups of English speakers.
Examples in Literature
While formal published works almost always use “birdcage,” literary texts do provide some examples of “bird cage” for creative impact. Charles Dickens, for instance, wrote this line in Bleak House:
“The baby in the bird cage with his eye against the bars “
Since Dickens wrote in a style mirroring natural speech, he often spelled compounds in their open form. But you’ll notice literature still contains far more instances of “birdcage” than “bird cage.” Here are a few more examples:
- “The birdcage was hung from a rafter by a stout chain.” – Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles
- “Edna’s gaze was fixed upon a small, bird cage that hung from a second-story window.” – Paule Marshall, Praisesong for the Widow
- “Things like a white birdcage that sat on a dresser.” – Margaret Laurence, The Diviners
These excerpts demonstrate how literary conventions overwhelmingly favor “birdcage,” while allowing “bird cage” in select instances.
Searching Books and News vs. Web Overall
To quantify usage, Google Books Ngram Viewer offers an interesting comparison. It surveys published books and news articles over time. Google Books shows “birdcage” used around 5 times more than “bird cage” in edited publications from 1800-2019. By contrast, a web search on Google overall shows “birdcage” results outnumbering “bird cage” results only around 3 to 1.
This helps illustrate the stark differences between edited and unedited writing contexts. In published books and news, conventions strongly dictate “birdcage.” But on the open web, informal usages allow more flexibility between one or two words.
Google Ngram of Published Uses Over Time
This Google Ngram chart shows the predominance of “birdcage” in published works between 1800 and 2019:
As you can see, “birdcage” took over as the preferred spelling in published sources by around 1850 and has remained the conventional choice thereafter. Instances of “bird cage” do persist but at much lower frequencies according to this corpus of edited materials.
Conclusion
In summary, “birdcage” and “bird cage” share the same essential meaning – an enclosure for keeping birds. “Birdcage” is the conventional spelling, especially in formal published writing. But “bird cage” also appears in more conversational contexts or when a casual tone is desired. Regional dialects may also favor one spelling over the other. Checking a given text for its register and tone will offer clues as to which spelling fits best. But when in doubt, defaulting to the standard “birdcage” is recommended for most writing situations.
