of all time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of all time" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is often used to emphasize the time frame of something, implying that it is greater than any other time frame. For example: Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Yes... of ALL time.

Huffington Post

The greatest prank of ALL TIME.

Huffington Post

Repeat, of all time.

Independent

Is she the best of all time?

The New Yorker

It's the understatement of all time.

The New Yorker

Of all photographs, of all time?" "Yes".

The New Yorker

The Top 10 composers of all time.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

And play-of-all-time declarations.

University of California, Berkeley

episode of all-time.

The New Yorker

Onstage, the OGs of all-time.

Vice

It is heard of all the time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of all time" to highlight something as being the best, worst, or most significant within the entire scope of existence or recorded history. This emphasizes the superlative nature of the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "of all time" in overly subjective claims where objective measurement is impossible. For example, instead of saying "This is the best movie of all time", consider "This is one of my favorite movies" to avoid potential disagreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of all time" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifying the extent or scope of a noun phrase. It emphasizes that the noun it modifies is superlative within the entire duration of existence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "of all time" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the superlative nature of a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely employed. It is most common in News & Media and Academia, making it suitable for various writing contexts. To use it effectively, reserve "of all time" for situations where you want to highlight the absolute best or most significant instance, while avoiding overuse in purely subjective contexts. Consider using alternatives like "ever" or "in history" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for all time

Highlights the ongoing and perpetual nature of something.

ever

A concise alternative emphasizing an unlimited time frame.

in history

Focuses on historical context rather than all possible time.

in all of history

A longer alternative focusing on the entire scope of historical events.

in recorded history

Narrows scope to time with documented accounts.

throughout history

Emphasizes a continuous presence across historical periods.

to date

Specifies the period from the beginning until the present.

up until now

Highlights the continuity leading to the present moment.

since the beginning of time

Emphasizes the occurrence of something since the earliest point.

in all ages

Suggests an occurrence throughout different eras.

FAQs

How can I use "of all time" in a sentence?

Use "of all time" to emphasize that something is the most extreme or notable instance ever. For example, "Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players "of all time"".

What can I say instead of "of all time"?

You can use alternatives like "ever", "in history", or "for all time" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "best of all time" or "greatest of all time"?

Both "best "of all time"" and "greatest "of all time"" are correct and commonly used. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "of all time" and "for all time"?

"Of all time" typically refers to something that is superlative within the entirety of past and present existence. "For all time" emphasizes that something will continue indefinitely into the future.