One Word — Or Two?

Words like anyway (any way), everyday (every day), and others can either be one word of two depending on how they are used. Many times I see these words written as one word when they should be two. So what is the difference, and how do you know?

awhile/a while – This one is tricky. If you put a preposition before it, use two words: a while, which is a noun. Awhile is an adverb. 

I can stay for only a while.  He will be here in a while.

Come sit here awhile. 

 

anyway/ any way – With many of these words, you can tell which one to use by seeing if you would pause between the parts of the word. Any way is an adjective and a noun. Anyway is an adverb.

I can go anyway.  Who cares, anyway?

Is there any way you can take my place at the meeting? I will get there any way I can.

 

sometime/some time/sometimes – Some time is a noun and an adjective. Sometime and sometimes are adverbs.

I hope you have some time to help me with this. 

Please come visit sometime. 

Sometimes I go to the beach on weekends.

 

any time/ anytime – Any time is a noun and an adjective. Anytime is an adverb.

I don’t think I have any time to do laundry today.

Come visit anytime. You can get these chores done anytime.

 

every one/everyone – Everyone is an indefinite pronoun. Every one is a pronoun and an adjective.

Every one of you should be studying your math. I frosted every one of these cupcakes.

Everyone is taking the bus to the fair. Hello, everyone!

 

any one/anyone – Any one is a pronoun and an adjective. Anyone is an indefinite pronoun. 

Did any one of you see the cat? Any one of you can try to fix the printer.

Is anyone there? I didn’t see anyone come in.

 

some thing/something/some things – Some thing and some things are nouns and adjectives. Something is an indefinite pronoun. Actually some thing  and something are the same, so use something. Because some implies more than one, we wouldn’t use some thing (but we would use some things) .

Something is in my eye. I heard something about you from my brother. (Some thing would mean the same thing, so we just use something.)

Some things are bothering me about this plan. I have some things for you to buy.

 

everyday/every day – Every day is a noun and an adjective. Everyday is an adjective.

I swim every day at 6 p.m. Every day is a fresh start.

My swimming program is an everyday thing. 

GRAMMAR DIVA NEWS

WRITERS WORLD

All writers and those interesting in writing, editing, publishing, design, marketing of books. The Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA) invites you to Writers World on Saturday, September 8 at Dominican College in San Rafael, Calfornia. There will be vendors, a Q&A session, and many speakers (of which I will be one).  For more information, go to the BAIPA website.

Sign up today by midnight for early bird prices.

 

Me at the Sonoma County Fair selling my books. A fun time!                             .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now on Kindle! On all other e-readers this week. In print later this month.