whenever

USAGE SUMMARY

'whenever' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to indicate when something might happen, whenever something could be done, or whenever a situation occurs. Example sentence: Whenever you need help, let me know.

✓ 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

Use "whenever" to create a sense of open-ended timing or repeated occurrence in your sentences. For example, "Call me "whenever" you need help" implies availability at any moment.

Common error

Avoid using "whenever" to describe a one-time event in the past. "When" is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "Whenever I saw her yesterday, she was smiling", use "When I saw her yesterday, she was smiling".

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "whenever" is to act as a subordinating conjunction, introducing adverbial clauses of time. It specifies that the action in the main clause occurs at any or every time the condition in the adverbial clause is met. Ludwig AI confirms it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whenever" is a versatile subordinating conjunction used to indicate that something happens at any time or every time a condition is met. Ludwig AI validates that its frequent use across various contexts, particularly in news and media, underscores its importance in expressing time-based conditions. While grammatically correct, it’s important to use "whenever" for repeated or unspecified times, differentiating it from "when" which refers to a specific event. For alternatives, consider "at any time that" or "every time that" to convey similar meanings. Using "whenever" correctly ensures clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at any time that

This alternative is a more explicit and slightly more formal way of expressing the same idea.

every time that

This phrase emphasizes the repetition or frequency of an event.

each time that

Similar to "every time that", this highlights individual instances.

on every occasion that

A more formal and emphatic way to express "every time that".

in any instance that

This suggests a broader range of possibilities or situations.

when

A shorter, more direct alternative that may lack the emphasis on repetition.

as soon as

This phrase focuses on immediacy and the lack of delay.

the moment that

Emphasizes the specific point in time when something happens.

while

This suggests simultaneity or duration, rather than repetition.

during the time that

A lengthier and more formal way of indicating a period when something occurs.

FAQs

How can I use "whenever" in a sentence?

"Whenever" can be used to indicate "at any time" or "every time". For example, "Visit me "whenever" you want to" or "Whenever it rains, I feel sleepy".

What's the difference between "whenever" and "when"?

"When" refers to a specific time or event, while "whenever" refers to any time or every time an event occurs. Use "when" for single events and "whenever" for recurring or unspecified times.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "whenever"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "whenever". For example, "Whenever I go to the beach, I bring sunscreen" is perfectly acceptable.

What are some alternatives to "whenever"?

You can use alternatives like "at any time that", "every time that", or simply "when" depending on the context. Each time that is similar to ""whenever"" in specific context.