Every Time or Everytime? Which One is Correct?

In English, small spelling variations can often lead to confusion. A common example is the difference between every time and everytime. While they may look similar and sound the same, only one of these forms is grammatically correct. This can be a tricky point for both native speakers and English learners alike.

In this article, we will explore the difference between every time and everytime, explain why one is correct and the other is not, provide examples of correct usage, and offer practice questions with answers to help clarify the correct form to use and when.

Is Everytime a Word?

Let’s get straight to the point: “everytime” is not a word in standard English. It is a common misspelling of the correct phrase every time, which consists of two separate words. Many people mistakenly believe that everytime is acceptable because other similar phrases, like everyday and everyone, are commonly written as single words. However, everytime is not an accepted form in either American or British English.

So, remember: “everytime” is always incorrect. The correct form is every time.

Every Time: The Correct Form

Definition and Usage

Every time is a two-word phrase that means “each instance that something happens” or “whenever something occurs.” It refers to individual occurrences, where every modifies time to emphasize each occasion separately.

• Examples:
• Every time I see you, I feel happy.
• She calls me every time she needs help.
• Every time it rains, the roof leaks.

In these examples, every time refers to particular instances when something happens. It is always written as two separate words.

Grammar Considerations

Every time is a combination of the word every, which is a determiner, and time, which is a noun. Together, they form a phrase that refers to individual moments or occurrences. It is similar to other two-word phrases like every day and every one, which are also often confused with their one-word counterparts (everyday and everyone).

• As a subject:
• Every time we meet, we laugh.
  (Here, every time functions as the subject of the sentence.)
• As an object:
• I think about you every time I hear that song.
  (Here, every time functions as the object of the verb think.)

Why People Confuse Every Time with Everytime

The confusion between every time and everytime may arise due to the frequent use of similar-looking compound words in English, such as everyday and everyone. However, unlike everyday (an adjective) and everyone (a pronoun), every time is always written as two words.

Common Mistakes with Every Time and Everytime

Let’s review some common mistakes people make when using every time and everytime.

1. Using everytime as a single word

• Incorrect:
  Everytime I see that movie, I cry.
• Correct:
  Every time I see that movie, I cry.
• Explanation: Everytime is not a recognized word in English. The correct spelling is every time as two separate words.

2. Confusing every time with everyday

• Incorrect:
  I see her everyday I go to the gym.
• Correct:
  I see her every day I go to the gym.
• Explanation: Everyday is an adjective meaning “ordinary” or “commonplace,” while every day refers to each individual day. Similarly, every time should always be two words when referring to individual occurrences.

3. Using every time when all the time should be used

• Incorrect:
  He is late every time.
• Correct:
  He is late all the time.
• Explanation: Every time refers to specific instances, while all the time indicates something that happens continuously or frequently without interruption. If you mean something occurs frequently, use all the time.

Examples of Correct Usage of Every Time

Here are more examples of how to use every time correctly in sentences:

1. Every time I visit New York, I try to see a Broadway show.
2. Every time the phone rings, I hope it’s good news.
3. He apologizes every time he makes a mistake.
4. Every time I hear that song, it reminds me of high school.
5. You don’t need to apologize every time you’re late.

In each of these examples, every time refers to specific instances when something occurs.

Similar Phrases to Every Time

To further understand the correct usage of every time, let’s compare it with similar phrases that follow the same pattern of being two separate words.

1. Every day vs. Everyday

• Every day (two words): Refers to each individual day.
• I go for a walk every day.
• Everyday (one word): An adjective meaning “ordinary” or “commonplace.”
• These are my everyday shoes.

2. Every one vs. Everyone

• Every one (two words): Refers to each individual person or thing within a group.
• Every one of the students passed the test.
• Everyone (one word): A pronoun meaning “all people.”
• Everyone was happy with the decision.

3. Any time vs. Anytime

• Any time (two words): Refers to any particular moment.
• Call me any time you need help.
• Anytime (one word): An adverb meaning “at any point” or “whenever.”
• You can stop by anytime.

In all of these examples, the two-word form refers to specific instances or individual things, while the one-word form often functions as an adjective or adverb.

Practice Questions

Let’s test your understanding of the difference between every time and everytime with some practice questions.

Question 1:

Which sentence is correct?

• a) Everytime I call her, she answers right away.
• b) Every time I call her, she answers right away.

Answer:
b) Every time I call her, she answers right away.

Explanation: The correct form is every time (two words). Everytime is not a recognized word in English.

Question 2:

Fill in the blank with the correct form (every time or everytime):

• _ I eat spicy food, I get heartburn.

Answer:
Every time I eat spicy food, I get heartburn.

Explanation: The correct form is every time because it refers to each instance that something happens.

Question 3:

True or False:
Everytime is an acceptable spelling in formal writing.

Answer:
False.

Explanation: Everytime is not accepted in either formal or informal writing. The correct form is always every time.

Question 4:

Which sentence is correct?

• a) You don’t have to remind me everytime.
• b) You don’t have to remind me every time.

Answer:
b) You don’t have to remind me every time.

Explanation: Every time is always written as two words.

Question 5:

Fill in the blank with the correct form (every time or all the time):

• He is late _.

Answer:
He is late all the time.

Explanation: Use all the time (not every time) when referring to something that happens frequently or continuously.

Conclusion

The difference between every time and everytime may seem minor, but it’s important to use the correct form to avoid spelling mistakes. The phrase every time should always be written as two separate words. It refers to each individual instance when something happens. On the other hand, everytime is a common misspelling and is not recognized as a valid word in standard English.

To avoid confusion:

• Always use every time (two words) when referring to specific occurrences.
• Remember that everytime is incorrect and should not be used in any context.

By understanding the difference and practicing the correct usage, you can ensure your writing is clear, professional, and grammatically correct.