If you’re wondering whether home made or homemade is the correct spelling, the short answer is simple: homemade is the preferred and correct spelling in modern English. It is written as one word and is commonly used to describe something made at home rather than bought from a store or produced commercially.
Many people still write home made as two words or use the hyphenated form home-made, but most modern dictionaries and style guides recommend homemade as the standard spelling.
Quick Answer: Home Made or Homemade?
✅ Homemade = Correct modern spelling
❌ Home made = Outdated and generally avoided
⚠️ Home-made = Older hyphenated form that occasionally appears but is less common today
Examples
- My grandmother baked a homemade apple pie.
- We enjoyed some homemade ice cream after dinner.
- She gave me a homemade birthday card.
Featured Snippet Answer
Homemade is the correct and preferred spelling in modern English. It is a closed compound word meaning made at home rather than commercially produced. While “home made” and “home-made” may appear in older texts, most dictionaries and style guides recommend writing it as one word: homemade.
What Does Homemade Mean?
Homemade means made at home instead of being manufactured in a factory, restaurant, or commercial facility.
The word is most often used to describe:
- Food
- Cakes
- Desserts
- Gifts
- Decorations
- Crafts
- Household items
Definition of Homemade
Homemade (adjective): Made at home rather than bought from a store or produced commercially.
Examples
- homemade cookies
- homemade bread
- homemade soup
- homemade candles
- homemade decorations
Origin of the Word Homemade
The word homemade developed from two separate words:
- home
- made
Over time, English speakers used the phrase so frequently that it became a closed compound word.
This process is common in English. Many expressions start as separate words, become hyphenated, and eventually merge into one word.
For example:
| Earlier Form | Modern Form |
| any thing | anything |
| every one | everyone |
| some body | somebody |
| home made | homemade |
Home Made vs Homemade: What’s the Difference?
There is virtually no difference in meaning between the two forms.
The difference is mainly spelling and modern usage.
| Form | Meaning | Modern Usage |
| Home made | Made at home | Rare and outdated |
| Homemade | Made at home | Standard and preferred |
Why Homemade Is Correct
Modern dictionaries and writing guides recognize homemade as the standard spelling.
It follows a common English pattern in which frequently used word combinations become one word over time.
Why Home Made Is Considered Outdated
Writing home made as two separate words was more common in older publications.
Today, most professional writers, editors, teachers, and publishers use homemade instead.
Home-Made vs Homemade
Some people wonder whether home-made with a hyphen is acceptable.
Is Home-Made Still Correct?
Technically, yes.
You may still encounter home-made in:
- Older books
- Historical newspapers
- Traditional style guides
- Archived content
However, modern English overwhelmingly favors homemade.
Modern Style Guide Recommendations
Most contemporary style guides recommend:
✅ homemade
instead of
⚠️ home-made
or
❌ home made
Comparison Table: Home Made vs Home-Made vs Homemade
| Form | Correct Today? | Common Usage | Recommendation |
| Home made | Rarely | Outdated | Avoid |
| Home-made | Sometimes | Older style | Acceptable but uncommon |
| Homemade | Yes | Modern standard | Use this form |
Why Homemade Is Written as One Word
To understand why homemade is one word, it helps to understand compound words.
Understanding Compound Words
A compound word combines two existing words to create a new meaning.
Examples:
| Word 1 | Word 2 | Compound Word |
| home | made | homemade |
| hand | made | handmade |
| class | room | classroom |
| note | book | notebook |
Closed vs Open Compound Words
English compound words appear in three forms.
| Type | Example |
| Open compound | post office |
| Hyphenated compound | mother-in-law |
| Closed compound | homemade |
Homemade belongs to the closed compound category.
How English Compound Words Evolve
Many compound words follow this pattern:
- Two separate words
- Hyphenated form
- One-word form
For example:
- web site → web-site → website
- home made → home-made → homemade
This natural evolution explains why homemade became the preferred spelling.
Homemade in Sentences
Here are some real-world examples showing how to use homemade correctly.
Examples of Homemade Food
- We enjoyed a delicious homemade pizza for dinner.
- The restaurant is famous for its homemade pasta.
- She brought homemade soup to the family gathering.
Cake Examples Using “Homemade”
- He surprised everyone with a homemade chocolate cake.
- The birthday party featured a beautiful homemade cake.
- Nothing tastes better than a fresh homemade cheesecake.
Gift Ideas and Homemade Examples
- I received a homemade photo album as a gift.
- Her homemade bracelet was thoughtful and unique.
- The children created homemade cards for their teacher.
Creative Homemade Craft Examples
- They sold homemade candles at the market.
- We decorated the room with homemade ornaments.
- The fair showcased several homemade crafts.
Homemade vs Handmade
Although these words are related, they are not always interchangeable.
| Feature | Homemade | Handmade |
| Made at home | Yes | Not necessarily |
| Made by hand | Sometimes | Yes |
| Often used for food | Yes | Rarely |
| Used for crafts | Yes | Yes |
Similarities
Both words describe something created rather than mass-produced.
Differences
Homemade focuses on where something was made.
Handmade focuses on how something was made.
Examples
- homemade cookies
- homemade jam
- handmade jewelry
- handmade furniture
Homemade in British and American English
One advantage of this word is that there is little difference between British and American English.
British English
British writers generally use:
homemade
American English
American writers also prefer:
homemade
As a result, the spelling is widely accepted on both sides of the Atlantic.
Common Mistakes With Homemade
Mistake #1: Writing Home Made
❌ The bakery sells home made bread.
✅ The bakery sells homemade bread.
Mistake #2: Using an Unnecessary Hyphen
⚠️ She brought a home-made dessert.
✅ She brought a homemade dessert.
Mistake #3: Confusing Homemade and Handmade
❌ She baked a handmade cake.
✅ She baked a homemade cake.
Mistake #4: Assuming Both Forms Are Equally Preferred
While readers will usually understand home made, modern English strongly prefers homemade.
Pro Tips for Using Homemade Correctly
Remember It Like Handmade
If handmade is one word, homemade should also be one word.
Use the Dictionary Version
When unsure, use the spelling found in modern dictionaries:
✅ homemade
Follow Modern Publishing Standards
Most blogs, newspapers, schools, and businesses use homemade.
Choosing the standard spelling makes your writing look more professional.
Proofread for Compound Words
Writers often accidentally separate compound words.
Check words such as:
- homemade
- handmade
- notebook
- classroom
- website
Frequently Asked Questions
Is homemade one word?
Yes. Homemade is generally written as one word in modern English.
Is home-made correct?
It can be found in older writing, but modern usage usually prefers homemade.
Which is correct: homemade or home made?
Homemade is the correct and preferred spelling today.
What does homemade mean?
It means made at home rather than commercially produced or purchased.
Is homemade an adjective?
Yes. It commonly functions as an adjective describing a noun.
Example:
- homemade bread
- homemade soup
- homemade decorations
Is handmade also one word?
Yes. Handmade is also typically written as a single word.
Can homemade be used in formal writing?
Absolutely. Homemade is accepted in both formal and informal writing.
Why did home made become homemade?
Frequent usage caused the phrase to evolve into a closed compound word, following a common pattern in English spelling development.
Conclusion
When choosing between home made and homemade, the correct choice is homemade. It is the standard modern spelling used in dictionaries, style guides, academic writing, and everyday communication.
Although home made and home-made may still appear in older texts, homemade is the form you should use today. Whether you’re writing about homemade food, gifts, cakes, crafts, or decorations, keeping the word as a single unit will ensure your writing follows current English conventions and looks polished and professional.
If you’re learning English vocabulary and commonly confused words, you may also enjoy our guides on Village vs Subdivision, Party’s or Parties, and Oversight or Oversite. Understanding these distinctions will make your writing clearer, more accurate, and more professional.
