Akeem Lasisi
The temptation to interchangeably use ‘any time’ and ‘anytime’ is high. As a result, many people do so. While the terms mean the same thing and can replace each other in certain contexts, however, it is wrong to use ‘anytime’ in some situations. Consider the following:
Meet the driver any time. (Correct)
Meet the driver anytime. (Correct)
Osimhen will leave Napoli at any time. (Correct)
Osimhen will leave Napoli at anytime. (Wrong!)
They are interchangeable when used as adverbs
When ‘any time’ and ‘anytime’ are functioning as adverbs, they mean ‘whenever’. In this situation, you can use either of them and there will be no error:
Let’s meet any time. (Correct)
Let’s meet anytime. (Correct)
Do the work any time. (Correct)
Do the work anytime. (Correct)
In both cases, the terms are adverbs of time and they are interchangeable.
Both are accepted when used as conjunctions
When they function as conjunctions introducing subordinate clauses, they can also replace each other. Interestingly, ‘whenever’ also perfectly works in this context:
I visit Ropo any time I am in Ibadan. (Correct)
I visit Ropo anytime I am in Ibadan. (Correct)
I visit Ropo whenever I am in Ibadan. (Correct)
Any time I am in Ibadan, I visit Ropo. (Correct)
Anytime I am in Ibadan, I visit Ropo. (Correct)
Whenever I am in Ibadan, I visit Ropo. (Correct)
In all the situations, each of the expressions is acceptable and interchangeable. Well, some experts are still skeptical about ‘anytime’ in the sense that they consider it casual or less formal. There is, however, no serious crime in using it as it has gained considerable popularity and acceptance.
When ‘anytime’ is unacceptable
Apart from the fact that ‘anytime’ is considered less formal than ‘any time’, there are some occasions it is outright wrong to use it. In such contexts, you should go for ‘any time’. The exceptions are discussed below:
When talking about a particular time or an amount of time
Once the term no more refers to ‘whenever’ but specifies an amount of time, don’t go for ‘anytime’. For instance, when it functions as a noun phrase, only ‘any time’ is correct:
Jubril does not have anytime for me now. (Wrong)
Jubril does not have any time for me now. (Correct)
Okinbaloye wants to know if the governor has anytime for the interview this week. (Wrong)
Okinbaloye wants to know if the governor has any time for the interview this week. (Correct)
In the above, the required expression refers to a particular time, not ‘whenever’. So, ‘any time’ is the only correct phrase.
When ‘at’ is in the structure
Lastly, it is wrong to use ‘anytime’ when the preposition ‘at’ is in the structure:
We can have the meeting at anytime. (Wrong)
We can have the meeting at any time. (Correct)
