Some of you are going to hate this, but both closed-minded and close-minded are acceptable.

Closed-minded is traditionally correct, and still recommended by the more respected publications, but close-minded has been commonly used for some time. See the chart below comparing the two in English publications this century.

 

It’s interesting (to me anyway) that the word didn’t show up in either form before the 20th Century and only became common in the 1960s. Clearly closed-minded is preferred, but there are enough instances of close-minded to suggest it’s okay too. Most dictionaries list them as accepted alternatives.

I’m sticking with closed-minded because it makes more sense. For this kind of person, the mind is closed, not close (close to what?). I understand that close-minded is easier to pronounce, but that’s the wimpy way out. Plus, there’s something in me that associates close-minded with clothes-minded, which seems like a good description for my teenage daughters.

Anyway, if this is an area of concern to you, let it trouble you no longer. Be willing to accept both versions; otherwise, you open yourself to accusations of being, well, you know.

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