Final answer:
The claim that verb-'off' compound nouns are always written as one word or hyphenated is false. How these compound nouns are written depends on established conventions, which can vary. For instance, 'takeoff' is a compound noun that is written as one word, demonstrating that it is not universally true that such compounds are hyphenated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that compound nouns that combine a verb and 'off' are written as one word or hyphenated is false. In English, there are various rules regarding the formation of compound nouns, and they can appear as one word, hyphenated or as two separate words. This depends on the specific compound noun and the convention that has been established through usage in the English language. An example of such a compound noun is 'takeoff', which is used as one word without hyphenation.
When forming compound nouns, it's important to follow the standard writing conventions. There are many resources, such as style guides, dictionaries, and grammar books, that provide guidelines on whether to write a compound noun as one word, use a hyphen, or write it as two separate words. This determination often depends on the clarity it provides in written communication and the established usage over time.
Generally, compound words are created by joining two or more stems. For example, 'notebook' is a compound noun formed by combining 'note' + 'book'. Hyphenation is used to join words serving as single modifiers before a noun to avoid confusion or to form a clear meaning, as detailed in section 11.5 above.