Any time can be used as a modifier when it is part of a modifying clause with ‘at’ preceding it, but anytime is used as a modifier without any preposition.Anytime is a modifier, but it cannot act as a modifier on its own.Any time is the grammatically accepted and correct form, whereas anytime is grammatically incorrect.Anytime can be used in an informal sense, whereas any time is in a formal sense. You can also use 'anytime' as an adverb to mean 'at any moment,' similar to how youd use 'at any time.' For instance, Merriam-Webster lists the sentence 'The bus should be here anytime now' as.Any time is used as a noun clause, whereas anytime is used as an adverb.(In this sentence, it has been used as an idiom.) Main Differences Between Any Time and Anytime Hurry up! They will be here anytime soon. Here are a few examples to make the context clear: –Įveryone can leave anytime we must start the party. If they fit the context, then you are good to go otherwise, you can always stick to its two-word version. When you are unsure whether its usage is correct, it is good to replace it with the two-version at any time.Īnother way to understand its correct use is to replace it with other equally compatible adverbs. However, the use of ‘anytime’ is limited to that of an adverb and can confuse at times. Its wide usage results from a phenomenon called casualism, which means a word that becomes vogue by mistake.Ĭasualism such as these become a norm due to their wide acceptance in the vernacular. It can qualify a verb as an adverb clause when used with the preposition ‘at’.Īnytime can also be considered as a contraction of its two-word version. Its usage is always grammatically correct. What is Any Time?Īny time is a formal noun phrase used as ‘any amount of time’. Example I don’t have any time for the discussion. Other usages This form is used when the word and acts as an adjective for the word ‘time’.

Formal usage This form is used when the word and is acts as an adjective for the word ‘time’. It can only be used as an adverb, not an adverb clause. Use as an adverb It can be used as an adverb clause with the preposition ‘at’.

Comparison Table Parameters of Comparison Any Time Anytime Definition It is a noun clause. For example, “We can party anytime because it is a holiday today”. To understand its usage correctly, one can try replacing it with another adverb, and if it fits the context grammatically, then it can be used without any problem. It is an informal word that can be used as an adverb only. It emerged as an accepted grammatical mistake and is used as an adverb. Anytime is a contraction of two words, ‘any’ and ‘time’.

Anytime vs any time would work