English has many word combinations that look as though they should be written as one word. “Any day” and “anyday” are a good example. When typing a message, writing an email, or preparing an article, you may wonder whether the correct form is any day or anyday.
The simple answer is that “any day” is the standard and preferred form in English. It should normally be written as two separate words. “Anyday” may appear in informal writing, but it is generally considered nonstandard and is best avoided in formal, academic, and professional communication. Understanding this small difference can improve your Grammar and make your writing clearer.
Any Day vs Anyday: The Quick Answer
If you are unsure which form to use, choose any day.
For example:
- You can visit me any day next week.
- We could receive the results any day now.
- I would choose this restaurant any day.
- Call me any day after Monday.
- She can start work any day this month.
In each of these sentences, “any” works with the noun “day.” Because “day” is being used as a noun referring to a particular or unspecified day, the words remain separate.
Major English usage sources also support the two-word form. Grammar references commonly distinguish expressions such as “any day” from established single-word forms such as “anytime.” Merriam-Webster, for example, lists “anytime” as an adverb meaning “at any time,” while “any day” is used as a phrase referring to an unspecified day.
What Does “Any Day” Mean?
“Any day” generally means one day without specifying exactly which day. The meaning depends slightly on the context.
For example:
You can come any day.
This means the person is free to choose whichever day works for them.
Another example is:
The package could arrive any day.
Here, the speaker does not know the exact day when the package will arrive.
The phrase can also suggest that something is expected to happen soon, particularly when used with “now.”
The baby could arrive any day now.
In this sentence, “any day now” means that the event could happen very soon. Merriam-Webster defines “any day now” as meaning within the next few days, or in the near future.
Dictionary.com similarly gives “any day” meanings related to an unspecified time and the expression “any day now.”
Why Is “Anyday” Usually Incorrect?
The main reason is that “anyday” has not become a standard compound word in modern English.
English does contain many compound words that combine two words into one. For example, we have “anywhere,” “anytime,” and “anybody.” This can make “anyday” look perfectly natural.
However, English spelling does not always follow a predictable pattern. A word that looks as though it should be combined may still remain two words.
“Anytime” is a good example of an established one-word form. Merriam-Webster lists it as a standard adverb.
“Anyday,” on the other hand, is generally treated as nonstandard. Grammarist notes that “any day” is the preferred form and recommends keeping the words separate, especially in formal writing.
So, even though you may occasionally see “anyday” online, that does not make it the preferred standard spelling.
Any Day in Everyday Sentences
The easiest way to understand the correct usage is to look at examples.
Consider these sentences:
I can meet you any day this week.
The speaker is willing to meet on whichever day is convenient.
We should hear from the company any day now.
The speaker expects a response soon but does not know the exact day.
You can order the product any day.
The sentence indicates that there is no particular day required.
I would choose coffee over tea any day.
Here, “any day” has an idiomatic meaning similar to “without hesitation” or “whenever the comparison is made.”
She could finish the project any day this month.
The exact day is unknown, so “any day” is appropriate.
Notice that “any” and “day” remain separate in every example.
Any Day vs. Any Time
Another reason people become confused is the relationship between “any day” and “any time.”
Both expressions can describe an unspecified point, but they are not exactly the same.
Any day refers specifically to a day.
Any time refers to an unspecified time.
For example:
You can visit any day next week.
This focuses on the day.
You can call me at any time.
This focuses on the time.
In some contexts, “anytime” can also be written as one word, especially when it functions as an adverb. Merriam-Webster recognizes “anytime” as a standard adverb meaning “at any time whatever.”
This difference is important because you should not assume that “anyday” is correct simply because “anytime” is a recognized word.
Any Day vs. Every Day
Another common source of confusion is “every day” and “everyday.”
Although these expressions look similar, they have different grammatical functions. Merriam-Webster explains that “everyday” is an adjective, while “every day” is an adverbial phrase meaning each day.
For example:
I go for a walk every day.
Here, “every day” means each day.
These are my everyday shoes.
Here, “everyday” describes the shoes and means ordinary or commonly used.
This does not mean that “anyday” follows the same pattern. In standard English, the preferred form remains any day.
A Simple Trick to Remember the Correct Form
If you often forget whether to write “any day” or “anyday,” use a simple question:
Is “day” referring to a particular or unspecified day?
If the answer is yes, write any day.
You can also try adding a word between “any” and “day.”
For example:
Any single day
If the sentence still makes sense, that is a useful reminder that “any” and “day” are functioning as separate words.
Compare:
You can visit any day.
You can visit any single day.
The structure makes it clear that “day” is a noun being modified by “any.”
Is “Anyday” Ever Acceptable?
You may encounter “anyday” in social media posts, casual messages, advertisements, or other informal writing. Some writers use it because it feels natural or because they associate it with words such as “anytime” and “anywhere.”
However, seeing a form used online does not necessarily mean it is accepted as standard English.
If you are writing an essay, business email, website article, school assignment, application, or other professional material, it is safest to use any day.
Choosing the standard form also avoids distracting readers. A reader may understand what “anyday” means, but the spelling can still look like a mistake.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some examples of incorrect and preferred usage:
Incorrect or nonstandard:
I can meet you anyday next week.
Preferred:
I can meet you any day next week.
Incorrect or nonstandard:
The delivery should arrive anyday now.
Preferred:
The delivery should arrive any day now.
Incorrect or nonstandard:
You can call me anyday after six.
Preferred:
You can call me any day after six.
Making this small correction can make your writing appear more polished.
Final Verdict: Any Day or Anyday?
When choosing between any day and anyday, the safest and standard choice is any day.
Use any day when you mean an unspecified day, whichever day is suitable, or a day that may occur soon. The phrase is common in everyday conversation, professional writing, academic work, and online communication.
Although “anyday” sometimes appears in informal writing, it is generally not the preferred standard form. If you want your writing to be clear and grammatically appropriate, keep the two words separate.