Whenever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Whenever" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens at any time or every time a certain condition is met. Example: "Whenever it rains, I like to stay indoors and read a book."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His quarrel was with his party, a quarrel he was ready to resume whenever the opportunity allowed.

The Guardian

In the Runyon original, the tiny tot dances whenever she can, "holding her little short skirt up in her hands".

The Guardian - Film

YouTube, meanwhile, thinks that is only right to count channel video views for videos that are still actually present on the channels - which means that whenever YouTube got round to reviewing the music majors' channels on its site, a massive cut was always going to be in order.

The Guardian - Tech

Now she panics whenever she forgets names and dates, which makes her feel worse.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The original buildings, constructed from dung and straw, tended to collapse whenever hit by one of the country's frequent earth tremors.

The Guardian - Travel

Whenever the topic of the vast – and constantly expanding – wealth gap comes up for debate, it seems as if someone is always itching for the opportunity to resurrect those words, culminating in Fitzgerald's observation that the wealthy "think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are".

The Guardian - Money

Quotations from his books slipped into our daily speech whenever we wanted to appear clever: "Those were days when men were men"; "When a handshake goes beyond the elbow, then it has become something else".

The Guardian - Books

Australians tend to have a preconceived idea of what Aboriginal Australia is meant to look like Wayne Quilliam "Whenever I'm creating a show for Australia, I tend to find – and this is just a general rule – that Australians have a preconceived idea of what Aboriginal Australia is meant to look like, meant to act, meant to sound," he says.

The Guardian - Arts

I swam towards the Italian ship but the waves were pushing me backwards whenever I got closer.

The Guardian

Whenever someone got a disease she put a cross in the box".

The Guardian - Film

Whenever the wrap dress, Von Furstenberg's most iconic creation, plays a starring role in a collection it seems to symbolise that she herself is the protagonist of the season's story.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by placing the "whenever" clause either at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence, depending on the desired emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "whenever" in situations where "if" is more appropriate for expressing a general condition. "Whenever" implies a recurring event, while "if" sets a single condition.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Whenever" is to act as a conjunction, linking two clauses and indicating that the action in the main clause occurs at any time the condition in the subordinate clause is met. Ludwig AI provides several examples that clearly demonstrate this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Whenever" functions as a conjunction to connect related events, indicating a conditional relationship. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's important to use "Whenever" to imply recurring events rather than single conditions, where "if" is more appropriate. Alternatives such as "every time" or "at any time" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Every time

Focuses on the repetition of an action at each instance.

Each time

Similar to "every time" but may emphasize individual occurrences.

At any time

Emphasizes the lack of specific timing for an event.

In any instance

Highlights that something applies across various situations.

On every occasion

Formal alternative that emphasizes the occurrence at each opportunity.

As soon as

Indicates immediacy or a direct consequence following an event.

While

Implies simultaneous actions or events.

During the time that

More formal way of expressing a period when something happens.

On the occasion that

Highlights a specific instance when something occurs.

If and when

Implies a condition and the time it might be met.

FAQs

How can I use "Whenever" in a sentence?

"Whenever" is used to indicate something happens at any time or every time a condition is met. For example, "Visit whenever you want to" or "Whenever he has a pair of aces, his eyelids twitch".

What are some alternatives to "Whenever"?

You can use alternatives like "every time", "each time", or "at any time" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "Whenever" and "If"?

"Whenever" implies a recurring event or action that happens each time a condition is met, while "if" indicates a single conditional occurrence. Use "whenever" to express repetition and "if" for a specific condition.

Is "Whenever" formal or informal?

"Whenever" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile for various writing styles. For more formal situations, consider alternatives like "on every occasion" or "during the time that".