Any Time vs. Anytime How to Choose the Right Word

If youre trying to choose between the words any time and anytime, its interesting to note that just a century ago, you wouldnt have even had a choice. Back then, any time people wrote, they always used the two-word version. There was no anytime. The word is a contraction that just happened and then was adopted.   How to Use Any Time Written as two words, any time is a noun phrase that means at no particular time or any amount of time. It indicates that something will probably happen soon, but an exact time can’t be stated. Any time should be written as two words when it is used as an  adverbial  clause preceded by the word at.   Examples: The package is due to arrive at any time.Because tensions between the two countries are high,  violence could erupt at any time. It is also written as a two-word phrase when any is used to modify the word time in sentences such as: I won’t have any time to work on the project until next week.If you have any time available, Id love to meet for lunch this week. Any time, written as two words,  is always correct.  It  should always be written as two words in  formal writing.   How to Use Anytime The word anytime is a contraction known as a  casualism, which is the result of the informal usage of a grammatically incorrect word becoming widely accepted. Anytime is an adverb meaning whenever or without a doubt. It is only correct when used as an adverb.  Examples include:   You can call me anytime.The boxer said that he could defeat his opponent anytime. Casualisms  such as anytime frequently make their way into informal writing as they become more common in spoken language. However, they should never be used in formal writing.   Merriam-Webster  lists the first known usage of anytime as 1822. Examples Here are several examples of any time and anytime being used, including some incorrect versions  to help you see the difference. Correct We can leave anytime youre ready to go. Correct We can leave any time youre ready to go. Correct The smoking volcano could erupt at any time. Incorrect The smoking volcano could erupt at anytime. Correct The guest speaker didnt have any time to go over his notes. Incorrect The guest speaker didnt have anytime to go over his notes. Correct Because the cab driver took a wrong turn, we didnt have any time to say goodbye. Incorrect Because the cab driver took a wrong turn, we didnt have anytime to say goodbye. How to Remember the Difference A handy tip to help you determine if it’s OK to use anytime in informal writing is to determine if it can be replaced with the word whenever without changing the meaning of the sentence. If so, you can feel confident that you’ve used  it correctly. You can also try replacing anytime with another adverb such as cheerfully or quietly. If the sentence is still grammatically correct, it should be safe to use anytime. For example: I play my guitar anytime.I play my guitar cheerfully.I play my guitar quietly. Take a look at these facts to help you choose the right word to use: Any time can function as either a noun phrase or an adverbial phrase.Any time is always correct.Anytime is always an adverb.Anytime cannot follow a preposition such as at.Use any time when referring to an amount of time.Never use anytime in formal writing. If you have doubts about which word to write, use the two-word version. It may sound formal or old-fashioned to your audience, but it is always correct. Sources Anytime. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online, Merriam-Webster.Garner, Bryan. Anytime. Garners Modern English Usage, 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2016, pp. 58-59.Ticak, Marko. Anytime vs. Any Time. Plagiarism Checker | Grammarly, 7 Apr. 2017.