Practice
Every time or everytime: write the phrase correctly
Sign in to saveThe phrase may sound like one long word when people speak quickly. In standard English, write every time as two words. It means each time or whenever a particular event happens.
Write every time as two words and use it for each occasion when something happens.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
every time /ˈev.ri taɪm/
The short answer
Write every time as two words. Use it when you mean each occasion or whenever something happens.
Every time I open the window, the cat comes inside.
Why it works: The cat comes inside on each occasion when the window opens.
5 more examples
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Every time the lights go out, the alarm starts.
The alarm starts on each occasion when the lights go out.
Not this:
Everytimethe lights go out, the alarm starts. What changes: Everytime is not the standard spelling. Write every time as two words. -
I check the address every time I send a package.
The checking happens whenever the speaker sends a package.
Not this:I check the address
every daybefore work. What changes: Every day means on each day. It gives a daily schedule, not one action linked to another event. -
Every time we meet, Niko asks about my course.
The question happens whenever the two people meet.
Not this:Niko asks an
everydayquestion about the weather. What changes: Everyday is one word here because it describes the noun question as ordinary. -
The screen freezes every time I try to pay.
The screen freezes on each attempt to pay.
Not this:The screen freezes at
the same timeevery afternoon. What changes: The same time identifies one clock time. Every time means each occasion. -
Every time you finish a page, save your work.
Saving should happen after each finished page.
Not this:Save your work
sometimethis afternoon. What changes: Sometime means at an unspecified time. It does not mean after each event.
Read the full guide
First ask whether you mean each occasion. If you do, write every time with a space. Then look at the rest of the sentence: it often names the repeated event after every time, as in Every time the bus arrives, people stand up.
Write every time with a space
Every time is two words in standard English. It may sound joined when you hear it, but the written phrase has a space. Use it when the same result happens on each occasion that another event occurs.
Every time the door opens, the dog looks up.
The dog looks up on each occasion when the door opens. The phrase connects the opening event with the dog's reaction.
Choose the standard spelling: everytime or every time?
Use every time. It is a two-word phrase.
Use it for each occasion
Every time means each time or whenever. It is useful when one event happens repeatedly and another action or result follows. Look for two parts: the repeated event and what happens because of it.
Every time I make soup, I use the large pot.
Making soup is the repeated event. Using the large pot happens on each of those occasions.
My phone makes a sound every time a new message arrives.
The sound follows each new message. Every time describes the repeated connection.
Do you use every time for one special occasion or for each repeated occasion?
Use it for each repeated occasion.
Put the repeated event first or last
You can begin with the every time clause, or you can place it after the main clause. The meaning does not change. When the every time clause comes first, use a comma before the main clause. When it comes last, you usually do not need a comma.
Every time the train is late, I call my manager.
The repeated event comes first, so a comma separates it from the main clause.
I call my manager every time the train is late.
The same event comes last. The sentence usually has no comma before every time.
Complete the sentence: I take an umbrella ___ the forecast says rain.
Use every time: I take an umbrella every time the forecast says rain.
Keep every time separate from every day
Every day also has two words, but it means on each day. It gives a frequency over days. Every time means on each occasion, so it usually needs an event rather than only a daily schedule.
I water the plants every day before breakfast.
The action happens once on each day. The sentence does not connect it to another event.
I water the plants every time the soil feels dry.
The action follows a condition. It happens whenever the soil feels dry, even if that is not daily.
Which phrase fits a daily habit: every time or every day?
Use every day for a habit that happens on each day.
Do not confuse it with everyday
Everyday is one word when it is an adjective before a noun. It means ordinary, normal, or used regularly. It does not mean each occasion. Check the next word: if the word describes a noun, everyday may be the right choice.
These are my everyday shoes for walking to work.
Everyday describes shoes. It says that the shoes are ordinary or regularly used.
I clean my shoes every time they get muddy.
Every time introduces the event that causes the cleaning. It is not an adjective before shoes.
Choose the correct phrase: These are my ___ clothes for home.
Use everyday: These are my everyday clothes for home.
Check the meaning before you write
Before you write the phrase, ask a short question. Do you mean each occasion, each day, or ordinary? Each occasion calls for every time. Each day calls for every day. Ordinary before a noun calls for everyday. This check helps you choose the space and the meaning together.
Every time the app updates, I read the new instructions.
The reading happens after each update, so every time is the phrase that fits.
I read the news every day on the bus.
The reading is part of a daily routine, so every day is the better choice.
Which meaning do you need for every time: each occasion, each day, or ordinary?
Choose every time when you mean each occasion.
Before you go
Remember this
Write every time as two words when you mean each occasion or whenever. Put it before or after the repeated event clause. Use every day for each day, and use everyday before a noun when you mean ordinary or usual.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Every time or everytime: write the phrase correctly"
Is everytime one word or two words?
In standard English, write every time as two words. It means each occasion or whenever. For example, Every time the lights go out, the alarm starts links the power cut to the alarm starting.
Every time the lights go out, the alarm starts.
When do I use every time in a sentence?
Use every time when one action or result happens whenever another event happens. In I check the address every time I send a package, the checking happens on each occasion when a package is sent.
Everytime the lights go out, the alarm starts.
What is the difference between every time and every day?
Every time means each occasion and usually connects two events. Every day means on each day. Compare I check the address every time I send a package with I check the address every day before work.
I check the address every time I send a package.
What is the difference between every time and everyday?
Every time is a two-word expression for each occasion. Everyday is one word when it describes a noun as ordinary or usual. Niko asks an everyday question about the weather uses everyday before question.
I check the address every day before work.
Where does the comma go with every time?
When an every time clause comes first, use a comma before the main clause: Every time it rains, the path gets muddy. When the clause comes after the main clause, a comma is usually unnecessary: The path gets muddy every time it rains.
Every time we meet, Niko asks about my course.