Mr. Grammarfuss Becomes Bewildered VIII
 

Would you use porchlight, porch-light or porch light?

No, it just attracts moths.

God help me, but Edmund's unhelpful response actually cracked me up--snorting, coffee-out-the-nose laughter...

I vote porch-light, but I'm a gutless compromiser...

LOL, Ed.

porch light

Those hyphenation conundrums can be a bugger, huh. I'd go with porch light too.

*bug lights can help with the moth problem*

A quick browse on the internet seems to favor "porch light."

I would probably use poach light; but I think you'all may know that about me.
Somewhat irreverently, without incivility,
Yours,
swh

If you want to avoid any raised eyebrows, then "porch light."

If you want to channel a modernist, then "porchlight."

If you want to annoy all of your readers, then "porch-light."

porch light

Noun phrase, or attributive noun used adjectivally?

The flickerings of the porch light threw strange shadows.

The porch-light flickerings threw, etc.

(There are probably clearer examples, but I'm composing on the fly.)

Yrs in grammarfussery,
Maryann