Every time you type “everytime,” you get a wavy little red line underneath it. But why? Isn’t this the correct spelling? Is it everytime or every time? Now, you are utterly confused.
Well, friend, be confused no longer. While these terms sometimes get used interchangeably, only one is the correct version. The correct spelling is every time — that’s right. There is a space smack-dab between the two words.
Keep reading to learn the meaning of “every time” and why it is always expressed as two separate words instead of in a conjoined form.
Every Time Meaning: What Is It?
Now that you know the answer to “Is it everytime or every time?” you can learn the etymology of the correct usage. Every time you use it, the correct phrasing is “every time.”
“Every time” is an adjective that means whenever, at any occasion, or without exception.
Here are a few example sentences on how to use “every time.”
- I feel happy every time I see a rainbow.
- Every time I eat, I get a Coke with my meal.
- She says the same thing every time I ask her how she is doing.
- Fred and Diane have fun every time they go out on a date.
- I binge-watch Stranger Things every time there is a new season.
- My brother and I argue over petty things every time we get together for a family dinner.
Everytime Meaning: What Is It?
So, what is the meaning of everytime? Many people use “everytime” because they believe it is a compound word variation of “every time.” There are similar compound words, such as “everywhere” and “everyday.”
There are three types of compound words: open, closed, or hyphenated. “Everytime” does not fit into any of these categories, but “every time” does. These two words do not combine to form a new word.
They cannot be hyphenated since they do not precede a noun that they modify, but “every time” is an open compound word since a space is left between the two independent words. They form a new compound meaning.
Here are some common compound words:
- Baseball (closed compound)
- Babysit (closed compound)
- Post office (open compound)
- Dining room (open compound)
- Self-reliance (hyphenated compound)
- Long-winded (hyphenated compound)
What’s the Difference Between Every Time and Everytime
The difference between “every time” and “everytime” is that “every time” is an open compound, while “everytime” is an incorrectly formed compound that results in a word that does not exist. This isn’t like “someday” vs. “some day” since the former functions as an adverb, and the latter is simply a two-word phrase.
“Every time” is a legitimate two-word phrase, just like “some day.” Both words exist independently of one another. They just do not join in a way that forms a compound word with any meaning.
In short, “everytime” is not an acceptable compound word.
Trick to Remembering Which One to Use
Since one of these words is correctly formed and the other isn’t even a word, remembering which one to use is fairly easy.
Phonetically, “everytime” might sound like the correct usage, but this is a misspelling that, while common, can make your report or essay appear unpolished and even unprofessional. As a matter of fact, “everytime” is simply a common misspelling that does not exist in the English language.
So, the easiest way to remember how to spell “every time” is there a space between the two words.
Try saying “every time” aloud. Do you naturally give more space between the words than “everyday” or “anytime?” Most people do without realizing it.
Say “every time” a few times to yourself, emphasizing the pause between the words to imprint this correct spelling into your brain.
If you’d like, you can try a synonym like all the time, always, and constantly.
Conclusion
Remember that little pause between the words when it comes to everytime or every time. Every time you say ‘every time,’ your brain will clue into this pause. If you have any comments or questions, drop them in the comments!
