Everytime vs. Whenever — What's the Difference?

"Everytime" is often used to indicate something that happens without fail at each occurrence of a specific event. For example, you might say "Everytime I hear that song, I think of you." It suggests a regular, predictable pattern. On the other hand, "whenever" is used more broadly to refer to any time a particular event happens, emphasizing possibility rather than regularity. It indicates any instance or occasion without implying repetition or sequence.

"Everytime" focuses on consistency and can often carry a tone of inevitability or routine. It’s typically used in contexts where the speaker wants to emphasize the regularity of an occurrence. Whereas "whenever" is more flexible, used to discuss occurrences that happen at unspecified times, often stressing spontaneity or irregularity.

In usage, "everytime" is not standard English and is considered a misspelling of "every time," which should be two words. On the other hand, "whenever" is correctly used as one word and is standard in English, applicable in both formal and informal contexts.

The phrase "every time" is applicable when discussing events that have a specific trigger or condition, often used to stress that the reaction or outcome is the same in every case. Conversely, "whenever" can introduce conditions that are more hypothetical or potential, without the need for them to have actually occurred repeatedly.

Both "every time" and "whenever" can be used to initiate clauses that add information about the frequency or timing of an action, but their nuances affect the meaning significantly. "Every time" implies no exception to the occurrence, while "whenever" allows for a broader, more undefined range of possibilities.