Common mistake take awhile (a while)

Common Mistake: "Take awhile" (a while)

Correct Usage: "Take a while"

One common mistake in English grammar is the incorrect use of "awhile" instead of "a while". Many people mistakenly believe that "awhile" is a standalone word, but it is actually two separate words - "a" and "while".

The phrase "take a while" is used to indicate the passage of time. For example:

  • It might take a while for the cake to bake.
  • Can you wait here for a while?
  • He took a while to respond to my message.

On the other hand, "awhile" is an adverb that means "for a time" or "temporarily". It is used to describe how an action is done or how long something lasts. For example:

  • Rest awhile before you start your next task.
  • She closed her eyes and thought awhile.
  • I sat on the bench and watched the sunset for awhile.

Remember, if you want to indicate the passage of time, use "a while". If you want to describe how an action is done or how long something lasts, use "awhile".

Note: If you want to avoid making this mistake and many others, you can use the Linguix grammar checker. It will help you to correct your grammar errors and improve your writing.

take awhile (a while) mistake examples

  • Incorrect:
    I'm sorry sir, your laundry will take awhile longer.

    Correct:
    I'm sorry sir, your laundry will take a while longer.

  • Correct:
    I'm sorry, your laundry will take a while longer.
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