I hadn’t: “Nowhere” is indeed one word. I also quickly realized just how easy it is, given our language’s constant state of flux, to make such a mistake when dealing with compound words.

Compound word puzzles are interesting in themselves but also show how things in the world are essentially combinations of other things.

On-air challenge: I'm going to give you three words, one of which is an animal. You give me a fourth word that can follow each of mine to complete a compound word or a familiar two-word phrase ...

This is a summertime puzzle. I'm going to give you three words starting with the letters H, O, and T. For each set you give me a word that can precede each of mine to complete a compound word or a ...

On-air challenge: You'll get three words starting with the letters C, P, and R (as in the life-saving technique). For each set, give a fourth word that can follow to complete compound words or ...

Hyphenate compound words when they show compound numbers, for example, seventy-six, twenty-five etcetera. Where word combinations might sound awkward, hyphens eliminate that possibility.