When you want to describe something as the best, the worst, or the most unforgettable, you might be unsure about whether to use all time or all-time.
‘All time‘ is a phrase you can use when you’re talking about the whole history or existence of something. It’s like adding ‘throughout history’ directly to the word you’re modifying.
On the other hand, ‘all-time’ with a hyphen turns into an adjective that means “never seen before” or “better than all others so far.”
All Time or All-Time? Which is Correct?
Both ‘all time’ and ‘all-time’ can be correct, but it depends on how they’re used in a sentence.
You should use ‘all-time’ with a hyphen when it’s an adjective before a noun. For example, in ‘all-time high,’ it shows that whatever you’re referring to is the most remarkable in history.
Meanwhile, ‘all time’ without the hyphen is a phrase that refers to the broadest sense of time. Like in the sentence, “Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwrights of all time.”
So, when you’re deciding between ‘all time’ and ‘all-time,’ consider if you’re talking about a general concept of time or describing something specific.
All Time: Meaning and Usage
‘All time’ is a phrase that means ‘forever’ or ‘throughout history.’ It’s used to talk about a period from the past and into the indefinite future.
Because it acts as a noun phrase, it doesn’t have a hyphen. For instance, you might say,
- “This library has been open for all time”
This means, the library has been open for a very long time and will continue to be. Here, ‘all time’ refers to how long the library has been open, not something about the library itself.
To explain this more, let’s look at another example,
- “This song has been my favorite for all time”
It means that this song has always been your favorite and always will be. This gives a feeling of ongoing and permanent love for the song.
Here’s an easy way to check if you’re using it right — if you can put ‘of all time’ after the noun and the sentence still makes sense, then you’ve used ‘all-time’ correctly.
All-Time: Meaning and Usage
‘All-time‘ works as an adjective, showing that something is the best or most extreme in history until now.
For example, if you say a sports player has broken an ‘all-time record’, you mean they’ve beaten all previous records so far.
Here’s how to use ‘all-time’ in sentences:
- The film became an all-time bestseller after it sold more copies than any before it.
- This summer’s temperatures have reached an all-time high, breaking 100 years of weather records.
Remember, ‘all-time’ changes the meaning of nouns, and you need to put it right before the noun it’s changing.
Examples of Using “All Time“ in A Sentence
“He is the greatest actor of all time.”
“This song has been my favorite for all time.“
“This chocolate cake recipe is the best I’ve tried in all time.“
“Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwrights of all time.”
“In all time, there has never been a more exciting basketball game.”
“For all time, this will remain my fondest memory.”
Examples of Using “All-Time“ in A Sentence
“The temperatures this summer have hit an all-time high.”
“He broke the all-time record in the 100-meter sprint.”
“Her new album has become an all-time favorite among fans.”
“The company’s profits reached an all-time low last quarter.”
“The football team achieved an all-time win in the championship game.”
“She set an all-time record for the most points scored in a season.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct usage of ‘all time’ versus ‘all-time’ in a sentence?
‘All time’ is used as a noun phrase, typically referring to an indefinite period, such as in “greatest of all time.” Conversely, ‘all-time’ is a compound adjective that describes an extreme record, like in “an all-time high.”
In which contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase ‘of all time’?
The phrase ‘of all time’ is appropriate when referring to the entire history of a category or when comparing across a wide span of periods, such as stating, “She’s considered the best athlete of all time.”
Is it at all time or at all times?
The correct expression is ‘at all times,’ indicating that something is continually true or that an action should be consistently applied, for example, “You should keep your identification on you at all times.”
