I’d Like Some Time, Anytime

Writers often confuse the words anytime and any time. As is the case with anyone and any one, you need to pay attention to what you mean to say. Anytime means “at any time whenever.” But you would use any time when you are talking about the noun time.

The same problems crop up with sometime (adverb or adjective) and some time. As with any time, you would use some time when you are speaking about the noun time. The following are correctly written:

• I’d like to go to the beach sometime.
• Sometime last night the burglar broke into my house.
• He’s a sometime father, only coming over when he feels like it.
• I need some time to write.
• It will take some time to get over her.
• I don’t have any time left in my day.
• You could see her anytime you like.

Although you might think the word anymore would follow the same rules,  it’s pretty much a toss-up in terms of usage choice. In recent decades it’s become common to use anymore pretty much anytime with anyone. So although it’s more common to write “I can’t eat any more ice cream,” you can write “I can’t eat anymore ice cream.” Although, I’d never write either, because I always find room for ice cream.