The single word 'anytime' is often confused with its two-word counterpart 'any time', but the difference lies not in their meanings, but rather in how they are used.

A prepositional phrase is a part of a sentence that contains a preposition, such as 'on', 'at', or 'in', and the object it affects. In this context, 'any time' is a grammatically correct phrase, whereas 'anytime' is not. For example, in the sentence 'They could call at any time', the two-word version is necessary because of the preposition 'at'.

On the other hand, when used as an adverb, 'anytime' means 'whenever' or 'at any time'. In this case, it can be written as one word, and it functions similarly to other adverbs. For instance, in the sentence 'Call me anytime', the single word is used to convey the idea of calling at any point.

Despite their similarities, there are some guidelines that can help distinguish between the two phrases. When discussing an amount of time, it's more common to use the two-word version 'any time'. As a conjunction, either 'any time' or 'anytime' can be used. And when acting as an adverb, both versions are acceptable.

While some readers may still view 'anytime' as a casualism, it is now widely accepted to write it as one word in informal contexts. In fact, using the two-word version in all situations was once considered standard practice, but over time, the single word has become more commonly used and accepted.

In conclusion, while 'anytime' and 'any time' share similar meanings, their usage is distinct. Understanding these differences can help you use each phrase correctly in various contexts. Whether writing formally or informally, being aware of these guidelines can help ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and effective.

Any time