One Word or Two: Anytime, Any Time
Do you wonder about the word anytime at any time? Anytime I stop to think about a word before I write it, wondering whether it is one word or two, it seems like a good topic to write about. If it takes me any time to think about it, I assume you may be thinking about it too.
That paragraph illustrates the use of anytime and any time.
Any amount of time = any time.
Do you have any time to review this piece?
We spent hardly any time in Dallas.
He doesn't have any time for us now that he has a girlfriend.
Whenever, at any time = anytime.
Call me anytime.
Anytime this happens, let me know.
I can meet anytime on Friday.
The correct choice after the preposition at is always the two-word form. Or leave out the preposition and use the one-word form. (Leaving out the at seems to be an American habit.)
★at any time=anytime
I can meet with you at any time. (Compare: I can meet with you anytime.)
Did you talk with him at any time? (Compare: Did you talk with him anytime?)
I am free at any time between 1 and 4 p.m. (Compare: I am free anytime between 1 and 4 p.m.)
In case you are spending any time wondering whether I made up these distinctions, I didn't. I checked Garner's Modern American Usage, Fowler's Modern English Usage (Revised Third Edition by R.W. Burchfield), and The Gregg Reference Manual. The other reference books on my shelf did not address the topic.
If you have any time to comment, do!
Anytime vs. Any Time
As English is an ever-evolving language, words are often caught mid-change. The adverb anytime is currently evolving; in common usage, it may be written as one word, but in formal communication it should be left as two words.
Quotation marks may be used any time a character is speaking.
This sentence is obviously formal, so a compound word would be inappropriate here.
My new bicycle allows me to go anywhere, anytime.
In this sentence, anytime is acceptable as a compound word because the sentence is informal; it’s not the kind of thing one would write in an essay or proposal.
any time 是正式书面语。
2.anytime不能用于正式书面语。用于正式书面语是必须分为两个单词。
but in formal communication it should be left as two words.
3.any time 更保险
Note, though, that whenever "anytime" is used correctly, "any time" could also be used. In other words, "any time" will almost always be correct or acceptable, but "anytime" can only be used in certain grammatical situations.
Merriam-Webster lists first usage at 1926. It does not appear anywhere in the OED Second Edition (last supplemented in 1987?). A Little Oxford Dictionary I have from 1987 doesn't list it either. So, at least one thing is clear: this compound is a comparatively new form of accepted usage.
Merriam-Webster defines "anytime" as "at any time whatever." American Heritage defines it as "at any time."
In cases where "anytime" can be used, you can equally communicate the meaning using "any time" instead. In the specific example you have, I believe a case could be made for either. But the more conservative choice is definitely "Will you be visiting any time soon?"
The best usage for "anytime" I can think of would be in the case of the Beatles song "Any Time At All." But, as in illustration of the point, "anytime at all" is not in fact the way the title was published.
Take this example: "Any time is fine with me." It is possible to say that this means that "Any time on the clock is fine with me. Two, four, whatever. Let me know."
In contrast, we could say that "Anytime is fine with me" means not so much that any time on the clock is fine, but that anytime whenever, if ever, in the next week or month or years is just fine. If this is a meaning that you want to emphasize, then that's when "anytime" is acceptable. BUT, the alternate use of "any time" certainly does not exclude this meaning either.
We are about as close as we can be to "making distinctions that don't have a difference" with this one. I say: if in doubt, use the more conservative "any time"; and if you are writing, say, for the Financial Times, just "any time" every time and don't even think about it.
Flag
Any Time Vs. Anytime
“I don’t have any time today. We can meet anytime next week.”
When a two-word phrase has a one-word variant, it can cause confusion for both native speakers and students learning English. One such example is every day vs. everyday: every day is a time expression that usually appears at the beginning of end of a sentence, while everyday is an adjective that appears before a noun. Another slightly more complicated example is any time vs. anytime. Is there a meaning difference? What are the usage rules for these two expressions?
Quick Tricks
If you use British English, the answer is easy! Always use any time (because anytime is not widely accepted).
If you use American English, it’s a bit more complicated. Basically, if preceded by a preposition, a negative word, or a question word, use any time. In all other cases, use anytime.
Any Time
Think of any time as a quantity of time. This determiner + noun can follow a preposition (usually at) or be used in a question or negative sentence (any almost always takes the place of some in these cases).
Go ahead and start the project at any time.
Do you have any time to meet with me today?
She won’t have any time to prepare for the presentation.
Anytime
Think of anytime as whenever. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines the adverb anytime as “at any time whatever”. Anytime is most often used at the beginning or end of a sentence, but it can also follow a verb. Anytime is sometimes described as a simply a “casualism” of any time, but note that in American English, anytime is the more common form.
Go ahead and start the project anytime.
She will arrive anytime between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Anytime you need a friend, I’ll be there.
*Note that the first example of both sets have the same meaning—you can almost always use at any time or anytime with no difference in meaning.If you have any other questions, ask me anytime!
Tanya
Battle of the Words: Anytime versus Any time
This word battle is all about a single word (anytime) versus a phrase (any time). You probably say these words often, but have you ever wondered what the difference is when you’re trying to write these words out?
The good news is that this usage is pretty simple. You just need to remember a few tips.
1. The word anytime is synonymous with whenever:
I am ready to leave this boring party anytime you are ready. (I am ready to leave whenever)
Gerald can install the new fixtures anytime. (Gerald can install the new fixtures whenever)
2. Another nifty trick to remember is that anytime functions as an adverb. Since adverbs can answer the question of “when?” you can change your statement into a question to test your usage:
When can we leave this boring party? Anytime/Whenever you are ready.
When can Gerald install the new fixtures? Anytime/Whenever.
3. On the other hand, the phrase any time implies any amount of time and will not make sense if you substitute a single word:
Do you have any time to look over my resume? (Do you have any amount of time?)
Is there any time left on your calendar? (Is any amount of time left?)
4. Perhaps the easiest trick if you’re in a bind is to try substituting whenever. If that single word does not make sense, then chances are you will not use the single word anytime.
Try out these usage tips the next time you’re perfecting your writing skills!
Grammar Trap: anytime vs. any time
Although similar to the anyone vs. any one trap, anytime vs. any time is even stickier.
“Anytime” (one word) is an adverb that means “any time whatsoever.”
Use “any time” (two words) when you want to refer to any particular amount of time.
Remember that anytime (one word) is an adverb, so it modifies the verb. So, if you can’t figure out which to use, ask yourself, “When?” If you can answer “anytime,” then use one word.
Example: You can call me anytime.
When can you call? Anytime. So, anytime is an adverb, and one word will do.
Example: Did you call me any time last week?
When did you call? Not anytime, but last week, so use two words here.
Remember, you can e-mail your Grammar Trap ideas to me anytime. There isn’t any time that I’ll get upset.
Kevin Leigh Smith,
[email protected]Do you have a Grammar Trap idea? Do you want On Target to cover a topic that interests you? E-mail your ideas to Kevin Leigh Smith.