Understanding why "for awhile" is incorrect

What kind of error is it?

Spelling error

Why do people make this mistake?

The error occurs because "awhile" and "a while" sound similar and are often confused in writing. "Awhile" is an adverb that means "for a short period of time," whereas "a while" is a noun phrase that means "a period of time." Thus, when "for" precedes it, "a while" should be used.

What is correct?

Use "a while" instead of "awhile" after the preposition "for" because "for" requires a noun, and "a while" acts as a noun phrase.