Understanding why "for awhile" is incorrect

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 29/09/2024, 13:16

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

For awhile or for a while. What's correct?

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.

Examples of correct usage

I will be staying here for a while.
We talked for a while before leaving.
She waited for a while at the bus stop.
He plans to travel for a while after graduation.