A discussion is brewing over the one-word versus two-word terminology, as it affects articles on that subject and leveling. There have been edits and reversions to these articles.
If any of you are Wikipedia editors, please jump into the discussion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Benchmark_%28surveying%29
Physical vertical control monument in the ground = 2 words. I correct it in every document I am involved with and cringe when I see it written as a single word in this context, especially by people who should know better. Even on the NGS website, you will see it both ways, but that doesn't make it correct.
And then there's ....
Flood PLANE vs Flood PLAIN
And then there's ....
asbuilt v. as-built v. as built...
It is a term of the profession (jargon) for me and I learned "asbuilt".
msword be damned.
Two words when referring to elevation or a physical mark or monument. I believe that one word is acceptable when referring to reaching a goal such as "My next benchmark in life is to start using two words when referring to a bench mark monument".
Look at any bench mark disk and you will see that historically it has always been two words.
> you will see it both ways, but that doesn't make it correct.
It very much does make it correct. Usage imbues correctness, as language is a moving target. Othyrwyse we auld type lyke Chaucer roat.
According to Webster in 1967.
I added some examples to the talk page. I found a slight preference for bench mark.