Every Time vs Everytime: Understanding the Correct Usage
Quick Answer
The correct form is every time (two words). The word “everytime” does not exist in English.
✓ I smile every time I see her.
✗ I smile everytime I see her.
Every Time — Always Two Words
Look at these sentences. What do you notice?
- She checks her phone every time it buzzes.
- Every time we visit, they make us tea.
- He forgets his keys every time he leaves.
- I learn something new every time I read.
Did you see the pattern? It is always every time — two separate words. It means “each time” or “on every occasion.”
Why You Cannot Write “Everytime”
This is what makes it confusing. Many “every” words ARE one word:
- everyone (one word)
- everything (one word)
- everywhere (one word)
- everyday (one word — when it is an adjective)
So you might think “everytime” follows the same pattern. But it does not. English just did not make “everytime” into one word. There is no grammar rule that explains why — it is simply how the language works.
| One word | Two words |
|---|---|
| everyone | every time |
| everything | every day (noun phrase) |
| everywhere | every week |
Easy way to remember: If the second word is about time (time, day, week, month, year), keep them as two words.
The Rule in One Line: It is always every time — two words, no exceptions.
Real-Life Examples With Every Time
Here are sentences you might say or hear in daily life:
- I burn the toast every time I try to cook breakfast. (= each time I cook)
- Every time it rains, the streets get very wet. (= on all occasions when it rains)
- She wins every time we play cards. (= on every occasion)
- My dog gets excited every time I pick up his lead. (= each time, without fail)
- He says “thank you” every time. (= always, on each occasion)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistake most learners make.
The Most Common Mistake With Every Time
If you have ever written “everytime” as one word, you are not alone. Even many native English speakers make this mistake — it is one of the most common spelling errors on the internet. The pattern of “everyone” and “everything” is so strong that your brain wants to follow it.
✗ Everytime I call, nobody answers.
✓ Every time I call, nobody answers.
✗ He is late everytime.
✓ He is late every time.
✗ Everytime I see that film, I cry.
✓ Every time I see that film, I cry.
How to remember: Try replacing “every time” with “each time.” If “each time” works in the sentence, you need two words. You would never write “eachtime,” right? Same idea.
Other phrases that follow this pattern: every day (noun phrase), every week, every month, every year. They always stay as two words.
Test Yourself: Every Time or Everytime?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. I check my phone _______ it buzzes.
2. She smiles _______ she sees a dog in the park.
3. _______ I cook, I burn something.
4. He says the same thing _______.
5. _______ we meet, we talk for hours.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned that every time is always two words. That is one common spelling mistake you will never make again.
But here is something interesting. You know “everytime” is NOT a real word. But what about anytime? Is “anytime” one word or two? And does it mean the same thing as “any time”? (The answer might surprise you.)
Next lesson: Anytime vs Any Time — Which Is Correct?
Source
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
