Practice
Whenever or when ever: which is correct?
Whenever I take the early train, I buy coffee before I get on. When ever did you start taking the early train? The first sentence needs one word. In the question, ever adds emphasis to when, so the words stay separate.
Use whenever as one word for any time or every time, and write when ever as two words only when ever has its own meaning in the sentence.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
whenever /wenˈevər/
The short answer
Use whenever for any time or every time: Whenever the office closes early, we work from home. Use when ever only when ever has its own job, usually to add emphasis to a question about time: When ever did the office close early?
Whenever the lights go out, the backup system starts.
Why it works: Whenever joins two events and means every time that the lights go out.
5 more examples
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Whenever my phone rings during a meeting, I silence it.
Whenever means every time that the phone rings during a meeting.
Not this:
When everdid your phone ring during the meeting? What changes: The speaker is emphasizing a question about the time of the call. Ever is separate from when. -
You can send the form whenever you are ready.
The phrase means at any time that you are ready.
Not this:
When everwill the form be ready? What changes: This is an emphatic question about the time when the form will be ready. -
Whenever the weather improves, we will repaint the fence.
Whenever introduces the time condition for repainting the fence.
Not this:
When everhas the weather improved so quickly? What changes: Ever strengthens a surprised question about a time in the past. -
Whenever I visit my aunt, she asks about my work.
Whenever means every time I visit my aunt.
Not this:
When everdid you visit your aunt last? What changes: The speaker asks for a time and gives the question extra emphasis. -
Take a break whenever you need one.
Whenever means at any time that a break is needed.
Not this:
When everdo you take a break on busy days? What changes: The separate words make an emphatic question. A neutral question would normally use when.
Read the full guide
Look at the meaning first. If you can replace the word with every time or at any time, write whenever. If you are asking when something happened and adding strong emphasis, when ever may be the right spelling. The separate form is unusual in ordinary sentences.
Use one word for a time connection
Whenever connects an event to a time. It often means every time that. Use it when the same kind of situation happens again and again.
Whenever the printer stops, Luis checks the paper tray.
Every time the printer stops, Luis checks the paper tray. The meaning is almost the same.
Complete the sentence: ___ I cook pasta, I make extra sauce.
Use whenever: Whenever I cook pasta, I make extra sauce.
Use whenever for an open time
Whenever can also mean at any time that. This use gives someone a choice of a suitable time. It does not always describe a repeated action.
Call me whenever you get home.
Call me at any time that you get home. The shorter sentence is more natural.
Choose the form for an open invitation: You may use the meeting room ___ it is empty.
Use whenever: You may use the meeting room whenever it is empty.
Keep ever separate in an emphatic question
When ever has two parts when it appears in a question where ever adds emphasis. The speaker still asks when something happened. Ever makes the question sound stronger, surprised, or impatient.
When ever did they announce the change?
The question asks about a time. Ever intensifies the question but does not create a time condition.
Choose the spelling in an emphatic question: ___ did you find time to finish the report?
Use when ever: When ever did you find time to finish the report?
Choose the neutral question when you do not need emphasis
Most questions about time need only when. Add ever only when the extra force is useful. Do not use whenever for a simple question about a date or time.
When does the next class begin?
This is a plain request for a time, so neither whenever nor when ever is needed.
Choose the neutral question: ___ did the delivery arrive?
Use when: When did the delivery arrive?
Test the meaning before you edit
If you see when ever in a draft, ask whether the sentence has a question about time. If it does not, try every time that or at any time that. When either replacement works, revise the spelling to whenever.
Whenever we receive a refund request, we check the order number.
Every time we receive a refund request, we check the order number. This confirms the one-word form.
Use the every time test: ___ the alarm sounds, leave the building.
Use whenever: Whenever the alarm sounds, leave the building.
Before you go
Remember this
Use whenever when you mean every time or any time. Use when ever only when ever emphasizes a separate question about when. If every time that fits, choose the one-word form.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Whenever or when ever: which is correct?"
Does whenever always mean every time?
No. Whenever can mean every time that an event happens, but it can also mean at any suitable time. In You can call whenever you are free, the speaker gives an open choice of time rather than describing a repeated action.
Whenever my phone rings during a meeting, I silence it.
Is when ever wrong as two separate words?
No. Use when ever when when is a separate question word and ever gives it emphasis. This often appears in a surprised question about time. In most ordinary questions, use simply when unless that extra emphasis is needed.
When ever did your phone ring during the meeting?
Can I use whenever in a direct question?
Usually no. A direct question such as When does the train leave? asks for a specific time. Whenever is more useful when it connects a time condition to another action or allows any suitable time.
You can send the form whenever you are ready.
How can I check the spelling in my sentence?
Try replacing the word with every time that or at any time that. If either phrase keeps the meaning, write whenever as one word. If the sentence is an emphatic question about the time of an event, check whether when and ever have separate jobs.
When ever will the form be ready?
Does when ever sound formal or informal?
The separate form can make a question sound strong, surprised, or impatient. It is not needed for a neutral question. In formal or calm writing, a plain question with when is often clearer unless the emphasis is part of the intended voice.
Whenever the weather improves, we will repaint the fence.