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I'm a non-native speaker and I'd like to know if it has been grammatically acceptable in the UK or the US to write "best friend" as "bestfriend". I've seen such spelling used a lot on the Internet.
Has "bestfriend" been considered one word instead of two (best friend)? Or is it still incorrect to spell like so?
The words best and friend combine to form a compound word, that is best friend. 'Best' is an adjective and 'friend' is a noun. So best friend is an example of an adjective/noun compound word. Bestfriend, although accepted widely is somewhere awkward. 'Best friend' should be used. Both Oxford dictionary and Merriam Webster dictionary include the word 'best friend'. It is an example of open compound word.
The following site has a good explanation and states only "best friend" is an acceptable spelling.
https://grammarhow.com/bestfriend-or-best-friend/
Dictionaries like www.merriam-webster.com also list "best friend" as a noun.
Just like you wouldn't write "bestfriendforever", you shouldn't write "bestfriend".
Best friend is indeed two words. Best and friend should not go together, even though best is an adjective and friend is a noun, but in proper English spelling it will be best friend, not bestfriend.
