I’m currently editing a manual titled “Toolkit.” The title hasn’t appeared anywhere in the manual itself, so I hadn’t thought about it much. But a little voice in the back of my head said, “Ya better look that word up.”
Sure, toolkit looks correct, but maybe it’s really two words. Any bets?
According to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary (COD), it is indeed two words: tool kit. As far as esthetics go, though, I sure like toolkit better.
Hoping to find support for keeping the word as a compound, I consulted Merriam-Webster’s, which cites only kit—carpenter’s kit, electrician’s kit, and so on. So much for toolkit support from a leading authority. That’s when I took the issue to the street.
Or at least, that’s where I met a seasoned editor friend. She assured me that choosing toolkit was a valid editorial decision. Are you sure? I asked, uneasy about forsaking my beloved COD—a big part of my editor’s toolkit kit tool kit. Sure, she said, you can always claim special treatment for titles—just be consistent.
Her words were reassuring, but I was still uncomfortable. A quick search on Google revealed that Canadian retailers Home Hardware and Canadian Tire both used tool kit. Would I be able to forge ahead along a path of spelling rebellion?
In the end, my apprehension didn’t matter. Presented with this information, the client chose toolkit. Sounds good, I said, and smiled to myself. The first rule of business? The client is always right. 🙂