Check in vs. Check-in

Both check in and check-in are the correct spellings. To check in means to register someone when they arrive at a hotel or airport. Check-in is the act of registering and reporting one's presence, typically done at an airport or hotel. Check-in is hyphenated only when it is used as a noun or adjective.

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Let's look into these two with some examples.

Example sentences

Check in (verb)

Please check in at the front desk to receive your room key.

In the example above, the subject is being directed to execute a certain verb, check in, at the front desk. Because check in is being used as a verb, not having a hyphen is correct.

My boss will check in with our team in two weeks, so be prepared.

In the above sentence, the boss is checking in, so he or she is “verbing,” and that means check in is a verb and does not need a hyphen.

My uncle checked in on us before going off to the airport.

Here we have the past tense of check in, checked in. Nouns and adjectives do not have past tense forms, so you can deduce that this checked in is a verb, meaning it should not be hyphenated.

You can check in online for your flight with that airline.

The subject of the sentence is told he or she can do the verb check in for a flight. Because check in is used as a verb, you would not hyphenate it.

Did you check in your baggage yet?

Likewise, in the sentence above, the subject of the sentence is asked if they did a verb, check in. Because it is neither used as a noun or adjective, you would keep it unhyphenated.

More example sentences

Please check in at the front desk before entering the hotel.
Passengers are required to check in at least two hours before their flight.
You can use the mobile app to check in for your flight and save time at the airport.
Don't forget to check in with your teacher to discuss your progress in the course.
Before the conference begins, make sure to check in and pick up your badge.
As a security measure, all visitors must check in at the main gate.
Guests can check in online and receive a digital key to their room for a contactless experience.
It's a good idea to check in with your supervisor regularly to update them on your project.
Parents should check in with their children to see how their day at school was.
Before departing, travelers should check in with the embassy for any travel advisories or updates.

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Check-in (noun)

The check-in at the hotel is at 3 PM, which is later than we hoped.

In the example above, check-in is used as a noun, so it needs a hyphen.

You can get the meal pass at check-in.

Check-in is also used as a noun in this sentence, not a verb. Therefore, it requires hyphenation.

I think we should ask that to the hotel staff at check-in.

Like the previous example, the check-in here is use as a noun and the hyphenation reflects that.

Check-in for the 8:00 AM flight to Singapore will now begin.

Here, check-in is used as the subject of the sentence and is used as a noun, so hyphenating it is correct.

My manager said she wanted to do a quick check-in with me later in the afternoon.

Again, check-in is used as a noun and even has an adjective, quick, describing it. Because it is not being used as a verb, the hyphen is a must.

More example sentences

The conference check-in is located in the lobby of the convention center.
Online check-in is available for most flights, making airport arrivals smoother.
After completing the online check-in, passengers can print their boarding passes at home.
Late-night check-in is available for those arriving at the hotel after hours.
Online check-in is available for most flights, allowing for a quicker airport experience.
The hotel offers late-night check-in for guests arriving after regular hours.
Airport security requires thorough check-in for all checked baggage.
Early check-in at the hotel allowed us to settle into our room ahead of schedule.
The resort offers express check-in for guests who want a swift arrival experience.
Online check-in for the event allowed participants to print their badges in advance for quick access.

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Check-in (adjective)

The check-in time cannot be changed, but you can extend your check-out time in some cases.

In the sentence above, check-in is being used to describe time. Because it is used as an adjective instead of a verb, it should have a hyphen.

The check-in process can get long, so be sure to arrive at the airport early.

In this case, check-in is used as an adjective to describe process, so it is correctly hyphenated.

The check-in paperwork took only five minutes to fill out.

In this example, check-in is used to describe paperwork. Because it was used as an adjective, it should have a hyphen.

I got a check-in verification text about 15 minutes after we checked in.

Likewise, check-in in this sentence is used as an adjective for verification, so it is correctly hyphenated.

Please take your luggage to the check-in desk, and the staff will assist you.

In this case, check-in is used as an adjective to describe desk, so having the hyphen is correct.

More example sentences

The airline's check-in process was quick and efficient.
I arrived at the hotel early, but my room wasn't ready, so I waited at the check-in counter.
Guests can complete the check-in procedure before their stay to expedite the arrival process.
The check-in desk was busy with travelers eager to begin their vacations.
The conference organizers provided a dedicated check-in area for VIP attendees.
The hotel's express check-in option allows guests to bypass the regular line.
The airline introduced a new automated check-in system to reduce wait times.
The online check-in process saved me a lot of time at the airport.
Please have your check-in baggage ready for inspection at security.
They installed a self-service check-in kiosk at the train station.

Practice questions

Abraham will check in/check-in on the patient every day to see if her vitals are stable.
Mrs. Summers and her husband wanted to check in/check-in early, but the hotel staff said she had to wait until the check in/check-in time, 2 PM.
There was a long line at the check in/check-in desk, so we decided to shop a little and then come back.
The senior developer will check in/check-in with you twice a week to check your progress.
Did Sonia fill out the check in/check-in form herself or did she have her guardian fill it out?
Michael did the check in/check-in process online to save time at the airport.
The landowner wants to check in/check-in tomorrow at the construction site and get updates from the supervisor.
When did you check in/check-in at the hotel?
The information should be in the check in/check-in confirmation email.
Please check in/check-in when you are finished with the examination.

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