What is correct face to face or face-to-face?

Answer 1

It depends on how it being used.

As an Adjective: Face-to-face, as in "I had a face-to-face encounter with Bigfoot!"

Here, "face-to-face" is used as an adjective to describe the noun "encounter."--what sort of encounter.

As a Adverb: Face to face, as in "I met face to face with the company president today." Here face to face is used to modify the verb "met"--how I met the president.

I guess the only way I remember this is that an adjective is often only one word: red balloon, fast car, big house) so the hyphens sort of make the phrase one word--if that works for you.

Another example would be:

Our meetings should start on time.

We must strive to have on-time meetings.

Answer 2

The correct term is "face-to-face" with hyphens. It is used to describe a direct interaction or communication between two or more people in close physical proximity.