in the mean time (meantime)

Short answer: use "in the meantime" or the one-word "meantime." Avoid "in the mean time" and hyphenated forms.

Quick answer

"In the meantime" is the standard phrase; "meantime" works alone. Do not write "in the mean time" or "mean-time."

"in the meantime" - correct (preposition + adverb).
"meantime" - correct as a standalone adverb: "Meantime, we waited."
Wrong forms to avoid: "in the mean time", "mean time", "mean-time", "in-the-meantime".

Core explanation

"Meantime" is a single lexical unit meaning "during the intervening period." Adding the preposition makes the idiom "in the meantime." Splitting it into "mean time" treats the words separately and is nonstandard.

Wrong: I'll work on the draft in the mean time.
Right: I'll work on the draft in the meantime.

Spacing and hyphenation - what to watch for

Use meantime (one word) or in the meantime (three words). Do not add hyphens in normal prose.

"meantime" = one word (adverb).
"in the meantime" = correct three-word phrase.
Avoid "mean time", "mean-time", and "in-the-meantime".

Wrong: We will continue in the mean time-please wait.
Right: We will continue in the meantime; please wait.

Grammar & punctuation: where to put commas

When the phrase begins a clause, follow with a comma: "In the meantime, please check the files." "Meantime" as a sentence opener normally takes a comma. Mid-sentence uses don't need extra punctuation unless the phrase is parenthetical.

Clause-initial: "In the meantime, do X."
Standalone opener: "Meantime, we revised the plan."
Mid-sentence/parenthetical: "We will draft the budget; in the meantime, review the list."

Wrong: In the mean time check the document.
Right: In the meantime, check the document.

Real usage: ready-to-copy examples for work, school, and casual

Natural phrasing for emails, essays, and messages. All corrected forms use "in the meantime" or "meantime."

Work: I'll confirm the budget with Finance. In the meantime, please prepare the slide deck.
Work: The vendor will reply by Thursday; meantime, we should freeze the guest list.
Work: We don't have the final numbers yet. In the meantime, use the projected figures.
School: The professor won't post grades until Friday. In the meantime, review your midterm notes.
School: The lab has limited slots. Meantime, complete the online consent form.
School: We need one more source for the essay. In the meantime, tighten your thesis statement.
Casual: The show starts at 7. In the meantime, want to grab dinner?
Casual: He's running late. Meantime, I'll order us seats.
Casual: The game is delayed - in the meantime, let's play cards.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence rather than isolating the phrase. Context usually makes the right choice clear.

Common wrong/right pairs (copy these fixes)

Quick replacements you can use immediately.

Pair: Wrong: "I'll finish the report in the mean time." →
Right: "I'll finish the report in the meantime."
Pair: Wrong: "In the mean time you can start the survey." →
Right: "In the meantime, you can start the survey."
Pair: Wrong: "She replied she'll call in the mean time." →
Right: "She replied she'll call in the meantime."
Pair: Wrong: "They updated the notes in the mean time between classes." →
Right: "They updated the notes in the meantime between classes."
Pair: Wrong: "We kept working mean-time until the issue was fixed." →
Right: "We kept working meantime until the issue was fixed."
Pair: Wrong: "Hold on - in the mean time I'll check email." →
Right: "Hold on - in the meantime I'll check email."
Pair: Wrong: "mean-time is not needed here" →
Right: "meantime is not needed here"
Pair: Wrong: "in-the-meantime, do nothing" →
Right: "in the meantime, do nothing"

Rewrite help: templates for fast fixes

Swap the bracketed content in these quick templates to match tone and context.

Work (formal email): "In the meantime, [please review/please prepare/please confirm] [the document/the slide deck/the figures]."
School (assignment): "In the meantime, [review/complete/research] [your notes/the cited sources/the draft]."
Casual (message): "In the meantime, [want to grab/let's try/I'm going to] [coffee/a bite/a quick call]?"

Rewrite: Before: "I'll scan the pages in the mean time." → After: "I'll scan the pages in the meantime."
Rewrite: Before: "In the mean time can you proofread this?" → After: "In the meantime, can you proofread this?"
Rewrite: Before: "She studied in the mean time between lectures." → After: "She studied in the meantime between lectures."
Work-template: Template: "In the meantime, I'll [action]." → Example: "In the meantime, I'll compile the vendor quotes."
School-template: Template: "Meantime, [action]." → Example: "Meantime, revise the bibliography."
Casual-template: Template: "In the meantime, [invite/action]?" → Example: "In the meantime, want to meet at 6?"

Memory trick & quick checks

Simple mental cues and quick searches make this easy to catch.

Mnemonic: picture one clock - one word → "meantime."
Proofreading shortcut: Find (Ctrl/Cmd+F) for "mean time" and "mean-time" and replace appropriately.
Check for a comma after clause-initial "In the meantime," when it starts a sentence.

Similar mistakes to watch for

The same spacing issue crops up in other words. Apply the same replace-and-check habit.

"everyday" (adj) vs "every day" (each day).
"all right" (standard) vs "alright" (informal; avoid in formal writing).
"meanwhile" - an alternative to "in the meantime" (single word).
"anymore" vs "any more" - check meaning and style; usage varies by dialect.

Usage: Wrong: "every day work" →
Right: "everyday work" (adjectival) or "every day" (each day).
Usage: Wrong: "in the mean time" →
Right: "in the meantime" (compare with "meanwhile").

FAQ

Is it "in the meantime" or "in the mean time"?

Use "in the meantime." "In the mean time" is nonstandard; correct to "in the meantime" or "meantime" depending on context.

Can I use "meantime" by itself?

Yes. "Meantime" can start a sentence or be parenthetical: "Meantime, continue with the tasks." In formal writing, "in the meantime" is often safer.

Is "meanwhile" the same as "in the meantime"?

"Meanwhile" is a near synonym and often interchangeable. Choose the form that fits rhythm and tone: "Meanwhile, we prepared the room."

Should I ever hyphenate "in the meantime"?

No. Do not hyphenate it. Use "in the meantime" or "meantime" only.

What's the fastest way to fix this in a long document?

Find "mean time" and "mean-time" and replace with "meantime" or "in the meantime" as appropriate. Then scan clause-initial occurrences to add a comma where needed.

Need to check a sentence now?

Paste one sentence here with "in the mean time" and get a natural rewrite using the templates above.