LetsWords
Confusing words

Anytime vs any time: when the space is a must

Call anytime: here either spelling works. But there's one phrase where anytime as one word is a mistake, and you probably say it every week.

Anytime means whenever, at any moment: call me anytime. In this meaning you can also write any time, especially in British English. But when you mean an amount of time, the space is required: do you have any time? A common phrase is not anytime soon: definitely not in the near future.

anytime or any time — can you pick the right one?

Learn to use English words freely in conversation

Start learning

call anytime/any time; at any time; have/spend any time; anytime soon

  • You can return the keys anytime before six.
  • Please contact reception at any time during your stay.
  • I did not have any time to check the new route.

What changed

First versionDo you have anytime to look at the schedule?

RevisionDo you have any time to look at the schedule?

Anytime is familiar from call me anytime, so it gets written everywhere. But in do you have any time the question isn't about a moment, it's about an amount: time is a noun, and any goes with it. So it's two words.

Cambridge Dictionary

Anytime answers when: you can return the keys anytime before six. Any time answers how much time: I didn't have any time to check. After at, it's always two words: at any time. And Anytime! in reply to thanks means you're welcome.

Your turn

Choose the noun phrase for an amount of time: I do not have ___ left today.

(any time / anytime)

Show the answer

any time — After have, the sentence is about an amount of time, so it's any time as two words. Anytime as one word answers when.

Ask a colleague if they have time today for a short task. Use have any time.

Do you have any time this afternoon to review the two-page summary?

Learn to use new words without mistakes

Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.

Build my practice plan

Practise English at your level and for your goal. Get corrections and clear explanations of your mistakes.