Compound adjectives: long-life and lifelong
This follower on Twitter made me smile.
Their bio description is a "long-life" learner, but I think they mean "lifelong" learner.
What's the difference?
"Long-life" something which is made to last a long time e.g. long-life milk
"Lifelong" (usually without a hyphen) means existing or happening for the whole of a person's life.
Collocations for 'lifelong': learner, friend, ambition, interest, supporter
"Lifelong learning" is the broad term for education that is conducted beyond school.
It is usually voluntary, rather than compulsory, and is therefore self-motivated – with the main goal being to improve personal or professional development.
Other compound adjectives that follow the pattern of long-life (adjective + noun) are:
- a short-term (plan)
- a first-time (mother)
- a long-distance (relationship)
- white-collar (workers) = people who work in an office
- blue-collar (workers) = people who work in hard, manual jobs
- full-scale (model)
- real-time (traffic reports)
- real-world (problems)
- a high-risk (strategy)
- low-budget (film)
- full-length (skirt)
Other compound adjectives that follow the pattern of life-long (noun + adjective) are:
- paper-thin (walls)
- accident-prone (toddler)
- world-famous (celebrity)
- home-sick (student)
- skin-tight (clothes)
- sugar-free (snacks)
- smoke-free (zone)
- last-minute (gift)
- water-proof (boots)
