Confused with hyphens and unhyphenated words

[lasermeat]

can somebody please tell me the difference of "followup" "follow-up" and "follow up" used in sentences

E.g. "Follow-up neurological evaluation."
"Followup in three months."
"The patient will follow up in three months."

Thanks :)

[Maeve]

can somebody please tell me the difference of "followup" "follow-up" and "follow up" used in sentences

E.g. "Follow-up neurological evaluation."
"Followup in three months."
"The patient will follow up in three months."

Thanks :)

It takes awhile for hyphenated words to progress to being written without the hyphen. For example, bumblebee, waterborne, and chickpea used to be written bumble-bee, water-borne, and chick-pea.

Sometimes combinations skip the hyphenated stage. For example, data base has become database without going through a hyphenated stage.

Your second example: "Followup in three months" seems to be a command. If so, then the imperative verb is written "Follow up."

In your first example, "follow-up" is an adjective. The hyphen is appropriate.

In the third example "follow up" is again a verb and so written.

[lasermeat]

Thanks for the clarification Maeve...