The confusion between All-time favorite vs All times favorite is a very common English grammar mistake that often creates awkward sentence structure and incorrect phrasing in both casual and professional writing. Many people mistakenly write “all times favorite” because they assume the phrase should use a plural form when referring to many years or experiences. However, standard English grammar correctly uses all-time favorite as a hyphenated compound adjective. This article clearly explains the difference, removes common spelling and grammar confusion, and shows the correct way to use the phrase naturally in everyday English. It also helps improve writing clarity, sentence flow, and overall grammatical accuracy with simple explanations and practical guidance.
All-Time Favorite
The phrase all times favorite sounds unnatural because English does not use the plural noun “times” inside this type of compound adjective structure. Native speakers almost always use “all-time favorite” because it follows proper grammar rules and sounds smooth in conversation.
This phrase appears everywhere in modern English:
- movie reviews
- sports discussions
Example
“That is my all-time favorite movie.”
People use this expression when describing something they consider the best, most memorable, or most loved compared to every other experience in their life.
The phrase is especially common in:
| Common Usage Area | Example Topic |
|---|---|
| Entertainment | Favorite movies and songs |
| Sports | Greatest athletes |
| Food | Favorite meals and desserts |
| Gaming | Favorite video games |
| Literature | Favorite books |
| Personal conversations | Emotional preferences |
Understanding the grammar behind this expression helps improve:
- sentence structure
- natural English fluency
Example
“She is my all-time favorite singer.”
This complete guide explains the real difference between all-time favorite and all times favorite, including grammar rules, hyphenation, sentence structure, natural usage, common mistakes, and practical examples.
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What Does All-Time Favorite Mean?
The all-time favorite meaning refers to something considered the most loved, admired, or preferred choice across every period of life or experience. The phrase expresses long-term preference rather than temporary enjoyment.
People use the phrase for things they consistently love over many years.
Common topics include:
- favorite foods
- favorite songs
Example
“Chocolate cake is my all-time favorite dessert.”
The phrase carries emotional meaning because it suggests lasting admiration and personal attachment.
Instead of saying:
“I like this movie.”
someone may say:
“This is my all-time favorite movie.”
That stronger phrase creates greater emotional emphasis.
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All-Time Favorite Meaning in English
The phrase becomes easier to understand when divided into its grammatical parts.
| Word | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| All-time | Compound adjective | Across every period |
| Favorite | Noun/adjective | Most preferred choice |
Together, the phrase means:
“The favorite choice across all years, experiences, or memories.”
This expression appears regularly in:
- everyday speech
- online discussions
Example
“That remains my all-time favorite book.”
The phrase sounds natural because native English speakers commonly use it to express powerful personal preference.
Is It All Time Favorite or All Times Favorite?
This is one of the most searched grammar questions related to the phrase.
The correct version is:
All-Time Favorite
The incorrect version is:
All Times Favorite
English grammar treats “all-time” as one connected adjective rather than a plural noun phrase.
Correct Example
“He is my all-time favorite actor.”
Incorrect Example
“He is my all times favorite actor.”
The incorrect structure sounds awkward because native speakers do not naturally use plural “times” in this expression.
Here is a simple comparison table:
| Phrase | Correct or Incorrect | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| All-time favorite | Correct | Proper compound adjective |
| All times favorite | Incorrect | Unnatural plural structure |
| Favorite of all time | Correct | Natural phrase structure |
| All time’s favorite | Incorrect | Incorrect apostrophe usage |
Understanding this difference immediately improves sentence quality and grammar accuracy.
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Why All-Time Favorite Is Correct
The phrase works because all-time functions as a:
Hyphenated Compound Adjective
A compound adjective joins multiple words together to describe a noun more clearly.
In this case:
- all
- time
combine into one grammatical unit.
Example
“She is my all-time favorite author.”
The hyphen helps readers immediately understand that the words belong together as one descriptive phrase.
Without the hyphen, the sentence may still be understandable, but it looks less polished and less professional.
Compound adjectives are extremely common in English writing.
Here are similar examples:
| Compound Adjective | Sentence Example |
|---|---|
| Long-term | Long-term success matters |
| Well-known | He is a well-known actor |
| High-quality | They sell high-quality furniture |
| All-time | She is my all-time favorite singer |
These structures improve readability and create smoother sentence flow.
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Why All Times Favorite Is Incorrect
The phrase “all times favorite” sounds unnatural because English grammar rarely places plural nouns inside this kind of adjective structure.
Native speakers naturally prefer:
- all-time favorite
- favorite of all time
Example
Incorrect: “This is my all times favorite song.”
The grammar problem happens because “times” interrupts the natural compound adjective pattern.
English prefers connected descriptive units instead of awkward plural constructions.
Here is a comparison table showing natural and unnatural phrasing:
| Incorrect Phrase | Correct Phrase |
|---|---|
| All times favorite | All-time favorite |
| My all times movie | My all-time favorite movie |
| All time’s favorite | All-time favorite |
| Of all times favorite | Favorite of all time |
Recognizing these patterns helps learners avoid very common writing mistakes.
All-Time vs All Time the Difference
Another common confusion involves:
All-Time vs All Time
The difference depends on sentence structure and grammar role.
| Form | Grammar Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| All-time | Compound adjective | All-time favorite player |
| All time | Noun phrase | Greatest scorer in all time |
The hyphenated version usually appears directly before a noun.
Common examples include:
- all-time record
- all-time favorite
Example
“This became the all-time highest-selling album.”
The open form “all time” functions differently and appears less frequently in everyday writing.
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Why Is All-Time Hyphenated?
Many learners ask:
The answer comes from standard English hyphenation rules.
The hyphen joins words together so readers understand they function as one descriptive idea before a noun.
The hyphen improves:
- sentence clarity
- reading flow
Example
“All-time favorite movie”
Without the hyphen, the phrase loses grammatical smoothness and appears less professional in formal writing.
English uses this same structure in thousands of common compound adjectives.
Grammar of All-Time Favorite
The grammar of all-time favorite follows standard compound adjective rules used throughout English.
Compound adjectives usually:
- appear before nouns
- use hyphens
Example
“He became the all-time leading scorer.”
This grammar structure helps readers process information faster because the description appears connected visually and grammatically.
Here are more examples:
| Compound Structure | Correct Example |
|---|---|
| Adjective + noun | High-speed train |
| Adverb + adjective | Well-known singer |
| Time-based phrase | All-time favorite |
Understanding these patterns improves writing clarity significantly.
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All-Time Favorite Grammar Rules
The main all-time favorite grammar rules are simple but extremely important for polished writing.
The phrase should:
- remain singular as “time”
- include a hyphen before a noun
Example
“Her all-time favorite food is pasta.”
Writers often create mistakes because they rely on pronunciation instead of grammar logic.
Here is a quick grammar checklist:
| Rule | Correct Usage |
|---|---|
| Use singular “time” | All-time favorite |
| Use a hyphen before nouns | All-time movie |
| Avoid apostrophes | Never write “time’s” |
| Avoid plural “times” | Never write “all times favorite” |
Small grammar corrections instantly improve professionalism and readability.
Favorite of All Time Meaning
The phrase favorite of all time has nearly the same meaning as “all-time favorite.” Both describe something considered the best or most loved compared to every other option.
This version often sounds:
- emotional
- dramatic
Example
“That is my favorite movie of all time.”
Native speakers commonly use this structure during emotional conversations, rankings, and reviews.
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All-Time Favorite vs Favorite of All Time
Both expressions are correct, but they create slightly different rhythm and emphasis.
| Phrase | Tone |
|---|---|
| All-time favorite | Compact and natural |
| Favorite of all time | Emotional and dramatic |
Example
“She is my favorite singer of all time.”
Writers often choose the longer version when emphasizing emotion or excitement.
My All-Time Favorite in Everyday English
The phrase my all time favorite appears constantly because people naturally enjoy discussing personal preferences.
Common conversation topics include:
- favorite athletes
- favorite games
Example
“Pizza remains my all-time favorite comfort food.”
The phrase often suggests nostalgia, emotional attachment, or long-lasting admiration.
That emotional quality explains why the expression appears so frequently on social media and entertainment websites.
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Favorite Movie of All Time
Movie discussions commonly use this phrase because films create strong emotional memories.
The phrase often appears in:
- rankings
- movie reviews
Example
“Many viewers consider The Godfather their favorite movie of all time.”
The expression creates strong emphasis because it compares every movie someone has ever watched.
Favorite Song of All Time
Music discussions frequently include this phrase because songs connect deeply with personal memories and emotions.
People commonly use it while discussing:
- childhood memories
- emotional experiences
Example
“That remains my favorite song of all time.”
Music often creates stronger emotional attachment than ordinary daily experiences, making this phrase especially common in music culture.
Common Grammar Mistakes With All-Time Favorite
Many learners repeat the same mistakes because the phrase structure feels unusual initially.
Common errors include:
- writing “all times favorite”
- forgetting the hyphen
Example
Incorrect: “She is my all times favorite actress.”
Most mistakes happen because writers follow pronunciation rather than grammar structure.
Here are the most common errors:
| Incorrect Usage | Correct Usage |
|---|---|
| All times favorite | All-time favorite |
| All time’s favorite | All-time favorite |
| My all times movie | My all-time favorite movie |
| Favorite of all times | Favorite of all time |
Learning these corrections improves proofreading skills immediately.
Why Correct Grammar Matters in Writing
Correct grammar affects:
- professionalism
- reader trust
Example
“Correct grammar makes writing easier to understand.”
Even small grammar mistakes can make writing feel awkward or unpolished.
Professional writing depends heavily on:
| Writing Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Clarity | Readers understand ideas faster |
| Readability | Sentences flow naturally |
| Credibility | Writing appears more professional |
| Engagement | Readers stay interested longer |
Good grammar improves communication in both casual and formal English.
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Practice Session All-Time Favorite vs All Times Favorite
Choose the Correct Phrase
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.
This is my ___ movie.
- all-time favorite
- all times favorite
She called it her ___ song
- all-time favorite
- all times favorite
That player became the team’s ___ athlete.
- all-time favorite
- all times favorite
The restaurant serves my ___ dessert.
- all-time favorite
- all times favorite
He described the novel as his ___ book.
- all-time favorite
- all times favorite
That remains my ___ television series.
- all-time favorite
- all times favorite
Answer Key
| Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| Favorite movie | all-time favorite |
| Favorite song | all-time favorite |
| Favorite athlete | all-time favorite |
| Favorite dessert | all-time favorite |
| Favorite book | all-time favorite |
| Favorite television series | all-time favorite |
Here’s a trusted source for clear word meanings:
FAQs
Is it all-time favorite vs all times favorite?
The correct phrase is all-time favorite. The phrase “all times favorite” is grammatically incorrect because English treats “all-time” as a compound adjective.
Is it correct to say “my all time favorite”
Yes, but the correct written form is my all-time favorite with a hyphen. The hyphen connects the words into one descriptive phrase.
Is it all-time favorite vs favorite of all time?
Both phrases are correct. “All-time favorite” sounds shorter and more natural while “favorite of all time” sounds more expressive and dramatic.
What does “all-time favorite” mean?
An all-time favorite refers to something considered the most loved or preferred choice across all experiences or periods of life.
Is all-time favorite hyphenated?
Yes. The phrase should be hyphenated because “all-time” functions as a compound adjective before a noun.
Do we say all the time or all the times?
The correct phrase is usually “all the time.” The phrase “all the times” is only used in very specific contexts involving multiple separate occasions.
How do you say “all-time favourite”?
In American English, the spelling is “all-time favorite.” In British English, it becomes “all-time favourite.” The meaning remains the same.
What is an all-time favorite?
An all-time favorite is something regarded as the best, most memorable, or most loved choice compared to all others.
How do you spell all-time favorite?
The correct spelling is all-time favorite with a hyphen between “all” and “time.”
What is another way to say “oftentimes”?
Common alternatives include “often,” “frequently,” and “regularly.” These words usually sound simpler and more natural in modern English.
How do I use anytime correctly?
“Anytime” is commonly used to mean “whenever.” The two-word form “any time” is used when referring to an amount of time.
Do we say “at all-time” vs “at all times”?
The correct phrase is “at all times.” It means continuously or always.
When to use all time?
Use “all-time” with a hyphen when it functions as a compound adjective before a noun. Use “all time” without a hyphen in other grammatical situations where it does not directly modify a noun.
Final Thoughts
The confusion between all-time favorite vs all times favorite is a common English grammar error that often leads to incorrect spelling, unclear phrasing, and unnatural sentence construction. The mistake usually happens when writers assume the plural form “times” fits logically with the idea of multiple experiences or years. However, standard English usage clearly recognizes all-time favorite as the correct hyphenated compound adjective.
The key point is simple. English prioritizes structure and grammatical accuracy over literal interpretation. “All-time favorite” functions as a single descriptive unit, which is why it sounds natural and is widely accepted in formal and informal writing. Once this rule is understood, the confusion disappears, and writing becomes more precise, fluent, and professional. Consistent use of the correct form also improves readability and strengthens overall communication clarity.
Jhon AJS, the creative mind behind Grammar Update, is an experienced blogger passionate about simplifying English grammar. He focuses on explaining confusing word vs word differences, grammar rules, punctuation, and sentence structure in a clear and practical way. Through easy to understand guides and examples, Jhon helps readers improve their writing and communicate with confidence. With years of blogging experience, he continues to share helpful insights that make learning grammar simple, useful, and accessible for everyone.
