all the while

USAGE SUMMARY

"all the while" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a specific time frame in which something else is happening. For example, "She was busy studying all the while her friends were having fun."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wasn't it obvious all the while?

The New York Times - Magazine

And they're profitable all the while.

TechCrunch

Have fun all the while.

WikiHow

All the while, Catalan frustration is mounting.

The Economist

All the while, the drinks kept flowing.

The New York Times

Smiling and laughing all the while.

The New York Times

And all the while, we hear bombs.

The New York Times

The litter kept swaying all the while.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And all the while, Sophie goes unvideoed.

The New York Times

All the while, Mr. Dimon sits quietly.

The New York Times

All the while, people were moving away.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all the while" to emphasize the continuous and simultaneous nature of two or more events. It adds a sense of ongoing action or state.

Common error

Avoid using "all the while" interchangeably with conjunctions that imply causality or contrast. "All the while" simply indicates simultaneity, not cause and effect or opposition.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "all the while" is to act as a conjunction or conjunctive adverb, linking two events or actions that occur simultaneously. Ludwig examples show it connects concurrent activities or states, emphasizing their temporal overlap.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

All the while" serves as a conjunction phrase to indicate that two events or actions are happening simultaneously. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. With a "Very common" usage frequency, it appears across a range of contexts, especially in News & Media. Ludwig's examples show that the phrase emphasizes continuous action or state. When writing, remember that "all the while" denotes simultaneity and should not be used to imply causality or contrast.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the same time

Focuses on the simultaneity of events without necessarily implying duration.

simultaneously

Emphasizes the exact concurrency of actions or events.

meanwhile

Highlights a concurrent event, often used to contrast with another ongoing event.

during that time

Specifies that something occurred within a particular timeframe.

in the interim

Suggests a temporary period between two events where something else happens.

in the meantime

Similar to "in the interim", but slightly less formal.

as this happened

Directly links the concurrence to a specific event.

whilst this was occurring

A more formal way of indicating simultaneous action.

throughout

Indicates that something happened continuously during a specified period.

as it transpired

Implies that something was revealed or became known during the period in question.

FAQs

How can I use "all the while" in a sentence?

You can use "all the while" to show that two things are happening at the same time over a period. For instance, "She practiced the piano, "all the while" listening to her favorite songs".

What are some alternatives to using "all the while"?

Alternatives to "all the while" include "at the same time", "meanwhile", or "simultaneously". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "all the while" formal or informal?

"All the while" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, there may be more precise alternatives depending on the specific writing style.

What is the difference between "all the while" and "meanwhile"?

Both "all the while" and "meanwhile" indicate that two things are happening at the same time. "All the while" emphasizes the continuous nature of the simultaneous actions, whereas "meanwhile" often introduces a contrasting or related event occurring concurrently.