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We use citywide, statewide, and countrywide. Is it OK to say "companywide"? Or does that word need to be hyphenated: company-wide?

The sentence I'm working with begins:

Provide the same data companywide ...

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  • CDO says that all 3 alternative spellings are acceptable.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    May 10, 2017 at 20:03

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Either is fine but (IMO) company-wide will feel more official to the average person, the reason being that since you'll find examples of both usages online, and the group that expects there to be a hyphen may view it as misused, while the group that didn't expect a hyphen but sees one is less likely to think it's misused (IMO).

Basically, including a hyphen has a less of a downside to surprise someone.

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  • good point I'll edit my answer.
    – GrammaRay
    May 10, 2017 at 18:46

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