Have you ever written a sentence such as “I think about you everytime I hear this song” and wondered whether everytime should be written as one word or two? This is a common spelling confusion because English contains many similar compound words, including everyone, everything, and everywhere. However, every time is the standard and correct spelling. The two-word phrase means “on each occasion” or “whenever something happens.” In this guide, you will learn its meaning, definition, grammatical function, correct usage, and common spelling mistakes so you can use it confidently in everyday and formal writing.
Quick Answer
Every time is the correct standard English form. It must be written as two separate words when you mean “each time” or “on every occasion.”
| Form | Correct? | Meaning | Main Use |
| Every time | Correct | Each time or on every occasion | Standard English writing and speaking |
| Everytime | Incorrect | Nonstandard spelling of every time | Avoid in standard English |
Examples:
- Correct: Every time I see her, she makes me smile.
- Incorrect: Everytime I see her, she makes me smile.
Remember: Write every time as two words, not one.
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Meaning and Definition
Meaning of Every Time
Every time means each time something happens or whenever a particular event occurs. It describes something that happens on every individual occasion, without exception.
People commonly use this phrase when talking about repeated experiences, habits, reactions, events, and situations.
For example:
- Every time I visit my grandparents, they prepare my favorite meal.
- She smiles every time she hears that song.
- Every time it rains, the streets become slippery.
In these sentences, every time emphasizes that the same thing happens on each occasion.
Definition of Every Time
Every time is an adverbial phrase meaning “on each occasion that something happens” or “whenever a particular event occurs.”
It consists of two separate words:
- Every: A determiner that refers to all individual members or occasions in a group.
- Time: A noun referring to an occasion or instance when something happens.
Together, they express the idea of something happening on each occasion.
For example:
Every time he calls, I answer the phone.
This means that I answer the phone on each occasion when he calls.
Is Everytime a Word?
Everytime is not the standard spelling of this expression in English. It is generally considered a misspelling of every time.
Although you might encounter it in informal online writing, song titles, social media posts, or casual messages, that does not make it an accepted standard spelling.
For school assignments, professional emails, academic writing, and published content, always use every time.
Main Difference
The main difference between every time and everytime is their spelling and acceptance in standard English.
Every time is a correctly written two-word phrase, whereas everytime is a nonstandard spelling that should be avoided in ordinary English writing.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Every Time | Everytime |
| Spelling | Two words | One word |
| Standard English | Correct | Incorrect |
| Part of speech | Adverbial phrase | Not a standard form |
| Meaning | Each time, whenever | Intended to mean each time |
| Dictionary usage | Established expression | Not an accepted standard alternative |
| Formal writing | Recommended | Avoid |
| Informal writing | Recommended | Nonstandard |
Does Every Time Have a Different Meaning?
No. The intended meaning is generally the same when people write everytime incorrectly. The issue is not a difference in meaning but a spelling mistake.
For example:
- Correct: I feel happy every time I visit my hometown.
- Incorrect: I feel happy everytime I visit my hometown.
Both sentences are intended to communicate the same idea, but only the first uses standard spelling.
Which One Is Correct?
Every time is the only correct standard spelling when expressing the meaning of each time or whenever.
Everytime is not an accepted alternative spelling in standard English.
Consider these examples:
- Correct: Every time I call him, he is busy.
- Incorrect: Everytime I call him, he is busy.
- Correct: She learns something new every time she reads a book.
- Incorrect: She learns something new everytime she reads a book.
This spelling rule applies to both American and British English. There is no regional difference that makes everytime standard in one variety and incorrect in another.
Grammar and Usage
Understanding the grammatical structure of every time makes it easier to remember why the phrase contains two words.
Part of Speech
Every time is an adverbial phrase. It indicates when something happens and can introduce a time clause.
For example:
Every time I see him, he waves at me.
Here, every time introduces a clause that describes when the waving happens.
It can also appear later in a sentence:
I remember my childhood every time I visit my old neighborhood.
In this example, the phrase modifies the verb remember by explaining when the action occurs.
The Role of Every
Every is a determiner used with a singular countable noun to refer to all individual members or occasions in a group.
Examples:
- Every student needs a notebook.
- Every morning feels different.
- Every opportunity matters.
- Every time counts.
Notice that every is followed by the singular noun time, not the plural form times.
The Role of Time
Time is a noun in this expression. It refers to an individual occasion or instance when something happens.
For example:
Every time we meet, we discuss our plans.
Here, time refers to each individual occasion on which the meeting takes place.
Using Every Time With Different Tenses
You can use every time with different verb tenses depending on the meaning of your sentence.
| Tense | Example |
| Present simple | Every time I exercise, I feel better. |
| Past simple | Every time we visited, they welcomed us. |
| Present perfect | Every time I have tried, I have succeeded. |
| Future meaning | Every time you visit, I will make your favorite meal. |
| Past continuous | Every time I called, she was working. |
The phrase itself does not determine the tense. The surrounding context and intended meaning determine the appropriate verb form.
Every Time in American and British English
There is no spelling difference between American and British English.
Both varieties use every time as two separate words.
Examples:
- American English: Every time I travel, I take photographs.
- British English: Every time I travel, I take photographs.
The spelling and grammatical usage remain the same.
How to Use Every Time
Use every time when you want to describe something that happens on each occasion or whenever a particular situation occurs.
Here are some common ways to use it correctly.
1. To Describe Repeated Actions
Use every time when an action happens repeatedly in response to a particular situation.
Examples:
- Every time I wake up early, I feel productive.
- He checks his phone every time it rings.
- Every time she visits us, she brings something special.
2. To Describe Habits
You can use the phrase to talk about habits or repeated behaviors.
Examples:
- Every time I finish work, I go for a walk.
- My brother listens to music every time he studies.
- Every time we eat together, we share interesting stories.
3. To Describe Repeated Experiences
Use every time when discussing experiences that occur on each occasion.
Examples:
- Every time I visit that restaurant, the food is excellent.
- She feels nervous every time she gives a presentation.
- Every time we travel abroad, we discover something new.
4. To Introduce a Time Clause
You can place every time at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a clause explaining when something happens.
Examples:
- Every time it snows, the children play outside.
- Every time I hear that melody, I remember my childhood.
- Every time he makes a promise, he tries to keep it.
5. To Emphasize a Strong Preference
In informal English, every time can also express a strong preference for one choice over another.
Examples:
- If I had to choose between tea and coffee, I would choose coffee every time.
- Give me homemade food every time.
- I would rather walk than drive, every time.
In these examples, the phrase emphasizes that the speaker would consistently choose the same option.
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Examples
The following examples demonstrate how to use every time naturally in different situations.
Examples of Every Time
- Every time I see you, I remember our first meeting.
- She smiles every time someone compliments her.
- Every time it rains, the garden looks beautiful.
- He forgets his wallet every time he leaves home.
- Every time we watch that movie, we laugh.
- I learn something useful every time I read a new book.
- Every time my mother calls, she asks about my health.
- The teacher explains the lesson every time a student asks a question.
- Every time I travel, I try to explore new places.
- He makes the same mistake every time he takes the test.
- Every time the phone rings, the dog starts barking.
- I feel more confident every time I practice speaking English.
- Every time we organize a meeting, everyone arrives early.
- She remembers her childhood every time she visits her hometown.
- Every time I listen to this song, it makes me emotional.
Examples in Everyday Conversation
– “Why are you laughing?”
“Every time I remember that joke, I laugh.”
– “Do you enjoy visiting your grandparents?”
“Yes, every time I visit them, I have a wonderful experience.”
– “Does he help you with your homework?”
“Yes, every time I ask him.”
Examples in Professional Communication
- Every time we receive customer feedback, we review our service procedures.
- The system generates a notification every time a new order is received.
- Every time a client contacts our office, we record the details.
- Please update the report every time a new result becomes available.
Examples in Academic Writing
- Every time the experiment was repeated, the researchers recorded the results.
- Students developed better writing skills every time they practiced.
- Every time the temperature increased, the reaction became faster.
Common Mistakes
Although every time looks simple, English learners and even experienced writers sometimes make mistakes when using it.
Here are the most important mistakes to avoid.
1. Writing Everytime as One Word
Incorrect: Everytime I see him, I feel happy.
Correct: Every time I see him, I feel happy.
Why it happens: English contains several familiar compound words beginning with every, such as everyone, everything, and everywhere. Writers sometimes assume that everytime follows the same spelling pattern.
However, the standard expression remains two words.
2. Using Every Times Instead of Every Time
Incorrect: Every times I visit my friend, we go shopping.
Correct: Every time I visit my friend, we go shopping.
Why it happens: Writers sometimes add an s because they are referring to repeated occasions.
However, every is followed by the singular noun time in this expression.
3. Adding When After Every Time
Incorrect: Every time when I visit my grandmother, she makes tea.
Correct: Every time I visit my grandmother, she makes tea.
Why it happens: Learners may add when because they recognize that the phrase introduces information about time.
However, every time already performs that function, so an additional when is normally unnecessary.
You can also write:
When I visit my grandmother, she makes tea every time.
Both structures are correct.
4. Confusing Every Time With All the Time
These expressions are related, but they do not always mean the same thing.
- Every time: On each individual occasion.
- All the time: Continuously, constantly, or very frequently.
Examples:
- Correct: Every time I call him, he answers.
- Correct: He talks about football all the time.
The first describes what happens on each occasion. The second describes something that happens frequently or continuously.
5. Confusing Every Time With Every Day
These expressions have different meanings.
- Every time: On each occasion something happens.
- Every day: On each day.
Examples:
- Every time I see her, she smiles.
- I practice English every day.
Remember that every day is also written as two words, but it refers to daily frequency rather than individual occasions.
Linguistic Insight
From a linguistic perspective, every time is an example of a two-word grammatical construction in which the individual words work together to express repeated occasions.
Word Formation and Morphology
Morphology is the study of how words are formed and structured.
The expression every time contains two separate grammatical elements:
- Every is a determiner.
- Time is a singular countable noun.
Together, they form a noun phrase that can function adverbially in a sentence.
For example:
Every time I hear that voice, I remember my childhood.
The phrase identifies each occasion on which the action occurs.
Syntax and Sentence Structure
Syntax refers to how words and phrases are arranged in sentences.
The expression every time commonly appears in two positions:
At the beginning of a sentence:
Every time she visits, we prepare dinner.
At the end of a sentence:
We prepare dinner every time she visits.
In both cases, the phrase introduces the repeated time relationship between the events.
Semantics and Meaning
Semantics is the study of meaning in language.
The meaning of every time focuses on individual occasions rather than continuous duration.
For example:
Every time I open the window, the cat comes inside.
This sentence describes a repeated relationship between two events. It does not necessarily mean that the cat remains inside continuously.
Why Do People Confuse Everytime and Every Time?
One reason for this confusion is the English tendency to combine certain words into single-word compounds.
Consider these examples:
| Two-Word Expression | One-Word Expression |
| Every day | Everyday (different grammatical function) |
| Every one | Everyone (different meaning) |
| Every thing | Everything (different meaning) |
| Every where | Everywhere (standard spelling is one word) |
| Every time | No standard one-word equivalent |
These examples show that English spelling does not follow one universal rule for every expression beginning with every.
The correct spelling depends on the established form and grammatical function of the expression.
Historical Development and Standardization
English spelling has developed over centuries, and some combinations of words have gradually become established as single words.
However, not every frequently used combination becomes a standard compound.
The tendency to write everytime as one word has appeared in English writing, but the two-word spelling remains the established standard. Historical usage references have also documented the occasional closed spelling while identifying the open form as the preferred choice.
This illustrates an important principle of linguistics: a spelling may appear in real-world communication without becoming accepted standard English.
Usage Tips
Use these practical tips to remember the correct spelling and avoid confusion.
1. Always write two words: Remember that the standard spelling is every time, not everytime.
2. Replace it with each time: If your sentence makes sense with each time, use every time.
Example: Every time I visit = Each time I visit.
3. Remember the singular noun: Use time, not times, after every in this expression.
4. Avoid unnecessary when: Write every time I see her, rather than every time when I see her.
5. Distinguish it from all the time: Use every time for individual occasions and all the time for continuous or frequent situations.
6. Check your writing: If a spelling checker identifies everytime, replace it with every time.
7. Use the correct form everywhere: Whether you are writing an email, an essay, a report, or a social media post, the standard spelling remains unchanged.
Expert Suggestion
As a grammar teacher, I recommend learning every time as a fixed two-word expression rather than trying to memorize it through comparison with other words beginning with every.
For ESL learners, students, and professional writers, the easiest approach is to remember its meaning: each time or on every occasion.
Whenever you write everytime, pause and check whether you mean every time. If you do, separate the words.
Also, remember that correct spelling is important even in informal communication. Developing this small writing habit can help make your English clearer and more professional.
Summary
The correct standard English expression is every time, written as two separate words.
- Every time means each time, on every occasion, or whenever something happens.
- Everytime is a nonstandard spelling and should be avoided in standard English.
- Every time consists of the determiner every and the singular noun time.
- The phrase is used to describe repeated events, habits, experiences, and situations.
- Both American and British English use the same two-word spelling.
- Do not add an unnecessary when after every time.
Remember: Every time is correct, and everytime is not the standard spelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Everytime One Word or Two?
The correct standard spelling is every time, written as two separate words. Everytime is a nonstandard spelling and should be avoided in formal and informal standard English.
2. Is Everytime a Correct English Word?
No. Everytime is not an accepted standard spelling of the expression meaning each time. The correct form is every time.
3. What Does Every Time Mean?
Every time means on each occasion or whenever something happens. For example, “Every time I see her, she smiles” means she smiles on each occasion when I see her.
4. Why Is Every Time Written as Two Words?
Because it consists of two separate grammatical elements: every, a determiner, and time, a noun. Together, they form an established two-word expression.
5. Is Every Time Correct in American English?
Yes. Every time is the correct standard spelling in American English. The one-word spelling everytime is not standard.
6. Is Every Time Correct in British English?
Yes. British English also uses every time as two words. There is no British English spelling exception that makes everytime standard.
7. Can I Use Everytime in Informal Writing?
You may encounter everytime in casual messages, social media posts, and other informal content. However, it remains nonstandard. It is better to use every time in all types of writing.
8. What Is the Difference Between Every Time and All the Time?
Every time refers to each individual occasion, whereas all the time means continuously or very frequently.
For example:
- Every time I call, he answers.
- He talks about sports all the time.
9. Is Every Time an Adverb?
Every time is an adverbial phrase rather than a single adverb. It functions as an adverbial expression by explaining when an action occurs.
10. Should I Write Every Times or Every Time?
Write every time. The noun time remains singular after every in this expression.
Example: Every time I visit, I learn something new.
11. Can Every Time Be Used at the Beginning of a Sentence?
Yes. You can use it at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a time clause.
Example: Every time I hear that song, I remember my childhood.
12. Is Every Time the Same as Whenever?
They have very similar meanings in many contexts. Both can describe repeated occasions.
For example:
- Every time I visit, she welcomes me.
- Whenever I visit, she welcomes me.
Both sentences communicate the same general idea.
13. Is Every Single Time Grammatically Correct?
Yes. Every single time is grammatically correct and adds emphasis to the expression. It highlights that something happens on absolutely every occasion.
Example: He makes the same mistake every single time.
14. Can I Write Every Time When in a Sentence?
You generally do not need when after every time when it introduces a time clause.
Incorrect: Every time when I call, she answers.
Correct: Every time I call, she answers.
You can use when separately in a sentence, but it is unnecessary in this construction.
15. What Is Another Way to Say Every Time?
Depending on the context, you can use several alternatives:
- Each time
- Whenever
- On every occasion
- Without exception
For example:
Every time I see him, I smile.
You can also write:
Whenever I see him, I smile.
Both express a similar meaning.
