# 'any time' vs. 'anytime'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-time-vs-anytime/245146>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 14, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-time-vs-anytime/245146 "2004-05-14T17:59:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-time-vs-anytime/245146/1 "2004-05-14T17:59:03Z")

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My coworker asked me about this and I found myself stumped. In a sentence such as 'You can call me anytime", is ‘anytime’ the proper word or should it be ‘any time’? Or are both terms correct?

I was thinking of the difference between ‘everyday’ and ‘every day’ and wondering whether this is a similar circumstance, but now I’m not so sure.

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**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-time-vs-anytime/245146/2 "2004-05-15T02:41:15Z")

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“anytime” is defined in my Webster’s Third as “at any time whatever.” The example is “…can get a job anytime.” Does that clear it up for you?

“Every day” and “everyday” is actually easier. “Everyday” is an adjective, and means ordinary or commonly used. “Every day” is an adverb. Examples: “These are my everyday shoes.” “I wear these shoes every day.”

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-time-vs-anytime/245146/3 "2004-05-15T02:53:00Z")

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[http://garbl.home.comcast.net/stylemanual/a.htm#anytime](http://garbl.home.comcast.net/stylemanual/a.htm#anytime)

> [@](#):
>
> anytime, any time One word as an adverb meaning “at any time”: You’re welcome to visit anytime But use two words if including the word at: You’re welcome to visit at any time.

[http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/anytime.html](http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/anytime.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Though it is often compressed into a single word by analogy with “anywhere” and similar words, “any time” is traditionally a two-word phrase.

Take your pick. You’re welcome anytime.

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-time-vs-anytime/245146/4 "2004-05-15T03:31:22Z")

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I’ve noticed how MS Word’s spell check is terrible about this. It doesn’t like those very first compound words you’ve been using since way back when. Someone at MS is in need of a grammar lesson…