Asbuilt or As built or As-built? (Helpful Examples)

You should know how to write “as built” before it comes up in your writing. This article will explore whether it’s one or two words. There is also a hyphenated form that needs to be discussed.

Asbuilt or As built or As-built?

The most common way to write it is “as-built.” The hyphen allows you to turn it into a compound adjective. “As built” is also correct, though it’s much less common to use this form unless the adjective comes after the noun. “Asbuilt” is never correct.

According to Google Ngram Viewer, “as built” and “as-built” are almost equal in popularity. This shows that both forms are correct to use. It mainly depends on the placement of the noun in the sentence (“as-built” works best before the noun).

You can also refer to The Oxford Dictionary to give you a better idea. In The Oxford Dictionary, “as-built” is the only registered entry of the word. This shows that the hyphenated form is the most common one to use.

Is “Asbuilt” One Word?

“Asbuilt” should never be written as one word. It is never correct to write it in this form because it removes the modification that comes from the hyphenated option. The hyphen is required to establish a clear difference between “as” and “built.”

Sometimes, hyphens can be dropped in favor of a simpler one-word variation. However, this is not the case when it comes to dropping the hyphen in “as-built.”

Perhaps you can refer to these examples to help you understand it:

• Correct: I asked for the as-built designs, but you haven’t given any of them to me. Why is that?
• Incorrect: She wanted them asbuilt, but I’m not sure what she means by that. Can you help me understand it?
• Correct: If you’re not going to complete it as built, then what are you doing here? Maybe I should find someone else.
• Incorrect: It’s an asbuilt error, and I’m sure we’ll be able to fix it. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience.

Is “As built” Two Words?

“As built” is correct as two words, but it’s most common when it comes after the noun in the sentence. If you write “as built” as two words before a noun, it would be incorrect as the hyphen is required to create a compound adjective.

These examples should help you make a bit more sense of it:

1. They wanted it completed as built. Have you met the standards that they provided for you?
2. I’m going to have to ask for it as built. I do not have time to mess around with the specifications.
3. It’s not as built, but we’re working on it. We think it won’t take much more time to get it sorted.
4. Why haven’t you completed the drawings as built? Is there something else you’re waiting for?

Is “As-built” Hyphenated?

“As-built” is hyphenated when used as an adjective to describe something. “As” and “built” should be grouped by a hyphen when they modify the same noun in the sentence. This is how compound adjectives work, according to The AP Stylebook.

Here are some examples to explain it to you:

1. I’m going to need the as-built drawings on my desk by Monday. Does that work for you?
2. I wanted these as-built, but you’ve given me something completely different.
3. Why are these not as-built, like I asked them to be? Why are you making me work harder than needed?
4. The as-built foundations are going to have to do here. We cannot risk another failure.

Is “Built” Capitalized In The Word “As-Built”?

Generally, you do not have to capitalize both parts of a hyphen. You should capitalize the first letter if it comes at the start of a sentence, but the second word does not need to be capitalized.

You will need to capitalize both parts of the word if you include “as-built” in a title. Most common title styles require both portions of a hyphenated word to be capitalized to ensure it fits with the rest of your title style.

Final Thoughts

“As-built” and “as built” are both correct, though there are many more situations where the hyphenated form works than the unhyphenated one. “Asbuilt” should never be used, though. It is not correct to remove the hyphen from the sentence and only write it as one word.