"Waterpark".....one word or two?

Our marketing department has recently been involved in heated discussions arguing whether it's "Waterpark" or "Water Park". Any opinions from the enthuthiast community?

ummm, either way I guess. I have seen it spelled both ways, neither has struck me as odd.

However, One does not spell Amusement Park or Theme Park as one word, so why should Water Park be spelled as one word.

A quick search online to a couple dictionary/english sites show the correct spelling as two words, Water Park.

Six Flags spells it as two words on their website, as well as Cedar Fair and Paramount sites.

I guess the accepted spelling would be two words then, eh?

So which side of the debate are you on?

*** Edited 3/27/2005 9:46:28 PM UTC by James K***

Guess who's back? Back Again? James K's back. Tell a friend.

I'm assuming the "waterpark" side, since that's in the thread title. Just a hunch.

I don't know what side I am on anymore as most of the corporate parks, including Disney, use "Water Park" (as James K said). What kills me is the World Waterpark Association (WWA) and IAAPA, the two main trade organizations representing the waterpark industry use "waterpark".....so go figure.....

http://www.dictionary.com/ - Wow, are you that bored? I'm sorry, but seriously.

I spell it waterpark. It just looks better IMO.

While it isn't in any style manual I've seen, the press more often than not makes it two words, so I kind of fall in line with that.

Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog

Water Park seems more proper but if i'm in a hurry i always just type waterpark because it's easier. Guess it doesn't really matter.

For what it's worth, Disney uses the two-word approach for Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. I'm also pretty sure that both Six Flags and Cedar Fair also use the same approach.

Languages evolve....right now, the one word usage may look *jargon-ish*, but over time it might be more accepted. Think about how many computer terms have become integrated into the language in the past 10-15 years...;)

You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)

roller coaster or rollercoaster?

-- alan "i fight against microsoft word" jacyszyn

Do not use a hypen between words that can better be written as one word: water-fowl, waterfowl. Common sense will aid you in the decision, but a dictionary is more reliable. The steady evolution of the language seems to favor union: two words eventually become one, usually after a period of hypenation.

Source: The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition, by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, page 35.

So it would seem that by extension--Water park, Water-park, and Waterpark would all be equally correct. I've rarely actually seen Water-park, but Water Park and Waterpark seem more common. Either way, at some point, the word will probably evolve into just Waterpark. *** Edited 3/28/2005 7:46:52 AM UTC by RideSafety***

I prefer Waterp Ark

And while I'm here..."Hersheypark" has to go. What was wrong with two words?