When should I use "every time" instead of "everytime"?
2023-06-26
This is what goPenpal answered
"Every time" should be used when you refer to each individual instance or occurrence of an event. It's considered standard English, encompassing the words "every" (meaning each or all) and "time" (referring to a specific instance). So if you're saying something happens each time a specific circumstance occurs, use "every time".
On the other hand, "everytime" is technically not a word recognized by many dictionaries. It's often confused as being similar to "everywhere", "everybody", or "everyone", but grammar rules on compound words don't apply the same way here. Remember, language can be tricky and doesn't always follow the logic we want it to.
Consider it a bit like a surprise party. You might throw a surprise party every time your best friend has a birthday (each individual instance of this event), but you wouldn't throw an “everytime” party, because “everytime” isn't an actual thing! Although you'll often see "everytime" used in social media or text messages, for more formal or professional writing, always choose "every time" instead.
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