JS Tip 542: “A While” and “Awhile"

Last week’s tip about any time and anytime prompted Greg Walker to write—

I seem to remember reading something similar about the word awhile, that awhile means for a while: “I need to rest awhile” means “I need to rest for a while.”

Is that right? Are anytime and awhile the same that way?

Bingo. You nailed this one. You’re absolutely right.  

The test is to substitute “for a while” for awhile. If it works, you’re good. If it doesn’t work, you shouldn’t use awhile as a single word. 

For example—

As Greg noted, you can do this with “I need to rest awhile.” It works as “I need to rest for a while.” Yup. “I’m going to sit down on this park bench and watch the birds awhile. For a while. Maybe ten minutes.”  

You can’t do this with “I saw him awhile ago.” “I saw him for a while ago.” No. That doesn’t work. It sounds goofy. Use two words: “I saw him a while ago. Maybe last November. Or August. Sometime.”

If you’re not sure and don’t have the time to think it through, use two words: “I need to rest a while.” “I saw him a while ago.” The word police will not break down your door and arrest you. We promise. (But, if they do, we’ll bail you out.) 

Greg, thank you for the discussion. We love this stuff.