The one-word adverb someday works when describing an indefinite future time (e.g., “I’d like to see him again someday”). Some day is two words when it refers to a single day, even if that day is unknown or not specified (e.g., “I have an appointment some day next month”).
The distinction is useful, but despite its usefulness and in spite of what usage authorities say, many writers use someday and some day more or less interchangeably.
Examples
Someday
She also sees the sunflower as someday becoming the official symbol of hope for those suffering from the disease. [Cincinnati.com]
It is possible that, someday, the schools, libraries, fire stations and park pavilions built in 2010 will be seen as the best and most carefully designed of the decade. [Wall Street Journal]
Some day
It might be some day in the not too distant future. [ESPN]
One day in the future, near or far I don’t know, but some day down the road, Eagles’ fans will look back and long for the days of Andy Reid. [NJ.com]
The meanings of some words and phrases are so similar that it’s difficult to see an appreciable difference. Why, for instance, does English have words like stairway and staircase, which appear to have no appreciable difference in meaning?
Likewise, the difference between someday and some day seems unclear at first blush. Why does the space matter?
Although someday and some day are indistinguishable in spoken English, they are actually different parts of speech. Precise writing depends on using words intentionally, so you will want to know when each of these terms is appropriate.
What is the Difference Between Someday and Some Day?
In this article, I will compare someday vs. some day. I will use each of these words in at least one example sentence, so you can see them in context. Plus, I will give you a useful mnemonic that will help you choose someday or some day for your own writing.
When to Use Someday
What does someday mean? Someday is an adverb and is defined as at an undetermined time in the future. It describes when an action or event will take place.
Here are some examples,
- Someday, let’s climb to the top of the water tower with bottle rockets and shoot them down into the river.
- I will be mayor someday, and you crooks will have a lot to answer for when that time comes.
- Someday, a great rain will come and wash all the garbage from the face of the earth.
- It bought the 101 remaining lots in the neighborhood for a total of $375,000 and spent about $550,000 finishing half-built lots and upgrading the pool and clubhouse, betting home builders someday would return to the area. –The Wall Street Journal
Someday, spelled as a single word, refers to sometime in the indefinite future. It is unspecific and does not necessarily imply an actual 24-hour day.
For instance,
- Someday, I will become famous.
This isn’t referring to an actual day; it’s simply referring to an undetermined time in the future. In this case, the one word someday is used.
When to Use Some Day
What does some day mean? Some day is a phrase that refers to a 24-hour span of time in the future that has not yet been specified.
In this sense, day is a noun, and some is an adjective that means not yet determined.
The following sentences are examples,
- Some day next week, we need to finish these audits so corporate stops breathing down our necks.
- Let’s find some day when we’re both free and grab a coffee at that café down on 50th and Division.
The noun could just as easily be plural, like in these two examples,
- Some days are rainy, but some days the sun shines over a glittering coastline as far as the eye can see.
- At a normal office, you take breaks — grab a cup of coffee with co-workers, take the occasional walk, maybe even eat away from your desk some days, to break up the day. –The Washington Post
The important takeaway from these examples is that some day, spelled as two words, uses the word day to refer to a discrete unit of time. When day retains its noun sense and refers to a discrete 24-hour period, the two-word some day is used.
- Let’s get lunch some day next week.
In this example, you are referring to days in the upcoming week, not just an unspecific time in the future.
Trick to Remember the Difference
Here is helpful trick to remember some day vs. someday
- Someday is an adverb.
- Some day comprises an adjective and a noun.
It can be difficult to remember when to use each of these terms. However, by remembering that the word day is a noun, you can also remember that some day is a noun phrase, rather than an adverb.
Summary
Is it someday or some day? Someday and some day are two English terms that many writers misuse.
- Someday is an adverb that situates an action or event at a vague point in the future.
- Some day is a noun phrase that refers, similarly, to a unspecified 24-hour period, also at some point in the future.
Since the word day by itself is a noun, you can easily remember that some day is a noun phrase, not an adverb.
In summary, the compound word someday is an adverb. The two-word phrase some day comprises an adjective and a noun.
Contents
- 1 What is the Difference Between Someday and Some Day?
- 2 When to Use Someday
- 3 When to Use Some Day
- 4 Trick to Remember the Difference
- 5 Summary
Asked by: Ms. Alta Block MD
Score: 4.6/5
(15 votes)
Someday means “at an indefinite time in the future.” Some day refers to one day that is perhaps unknown or unspecified.
Is some day one word or two?
“Someday” refers to an unspecified time in the future, as in “Someday my prince will come.” As two words, “some day” refers to an unspecified but specific day: The interview will be scheduled for a particular but unspecified day the following week. “Someday” is incorrect in that context.
How do you use some day?
If you’re referring to a future event that will occur on an unspecified, single day, then you would use the phrase some day. If you’re referring to an occasion, or series of events at a distant, indefinite time, then using the word someday is correct.
Are some days correct?
«Some days» is the same as «sometimes.» Both mean «at certain times in the present» when used with a present-tense verb.
Is some day a compound word?
Someday – This compound word is an adverb and means “at an indefinite time in the future.”
24 related questions found
Is ice cream a compound word?
When two words are used together to yield a new meaning, a compound is formed. Compound words can be written in three ways: as open compounds (spelled as two words, e.g., ice cream), closed compounds (joined to form a single word, e.g., doorknob), or hyphenated compounds (two words joined by a hyphen, e.g., long-term).
Does someday mean never?
Someday means “at an indefinite time in the future.” Some day refers to one day that is perhaps unknown or unspecified.
What is sometimes grammar?
Sometimes is a one-word adverb that means “occasionally” or “now and then.” Sometimes I just don’t understand what that man is saying. English grammar sometimes follows its own rules, and sometimes it doesn’t. Everybody hurts sometimes .
How many days means a few days?
It is common use to say ‘a couple’ to mean ‘a few’, though. A couple of days is usually 2 days. A few days could be 2 or more days, usually 3 or 4.
Does someday have a space?
As someday and some day differ by only one space, these words are easy to confuse. Both words have the same pronunciation in spoken English, but indeed they are different parts of speech. some day and use each of these words in sentences. …
What does someday soon mean?
at some time in the future that is not yet known or not stated: Maybe someday you’ll both meet again. Someday soon you’re going to have to make a decision.
Whats the difference between every day and everyday?
Everyday, one word, is an adjective meaning «used or seen daily,» or «ordinary.» «The phone calls were an everyday occurrence.» Every day, two words, is an adverb phrase meaning «daily» or «every weekday.» «They go to the coffee shop every day.» One trick to remember which is which is to see if you can put another word …
What part of speech is some day?
Someday is an adverb and is defined as at an undetermined time in the future. It describes when an action or event will take place.
What part of speech is never?
At no time.
How do you use someday in a sentence?
Someday sentence example
- Someday , you might need these lessons. …
- Someday , if you’re a good boy, I’ll let you listen. …
- I plan to tell them someday , but I’m not ready yet.
How many is several days?
Two is a «couple» and more than two or three is several. If you eat four donuts you can say you had several but you may have had too many — especially if you get a stomach-ache. Several is a word that shows size or number when you can’t be specific or when you want to summarize.
What does the next few days mean?
For me “in the next few days” is very specific, it means definitely before a week goes by, maybe 3-4 days. “In coming days” is rare, it is a more literary version of “in the coming days” which is also fairly literary and so, less commonly used.
Is a few 4?
Some insisted “a few” meant three and only three. Some said it meant three or four. Or maybe more. The answer is that there is no hard-and-fast answer.
When you have a moment meaning?
phrase. If something or someone is having a moment, they are successful or popular at the present time. [informal] Long skirts are having a moment.
Will talk sometime meaning?
Sometime (one word, without the S) is also an adverb, but it means “at an unspecified time in the future/past.” We should go out for coffee sometime. He’d like to talk to you sometime. Let’s get together sometime soon. I’ll call you sometime this afternoon.
How do you use the word then?
Than is used in comparisons as a conjunction (as in «she is younger than I am») and as a preposition («he is taller than me»). Then indicates time. It is used as an adverb («I lived in Idaho then»), noun («we’ll have to wait until then»), and adjective («the then-governor»).
Is someday a preposition?
Written as one word, someday is an adverb meaning at some indefinite time: … Written as two words, the adverbial phrase (adjective and noun) means a somewhat more definite time and is the correct form to use after a preposition: Lesley will schedule the next meeting for some day in the middle of September.
How do you use at the end of the day in a sentence?
Example Sentences
At the end of the day, I am the one who has to live in the house that I buy. At the end of the day I put my computer off and go home to my family. I am so tired at the end of the day that I fall asleep in front of the television most nights. At the end of the day we were all happy with the decision.
What is the part of speech for Will?
transitive verb. : desire, wish call it what you will. intransitive verb.
usage note for someday
The adverb someday is written solid: Perhaps someday we will know the truth. The two-word form some day means “a specific but unnamed day”: We will reschedule the meeting for some day when everyone can attend.
Consequently, is someday a compound word?
Since the word day by itself is a noun, you can easily remember that some day is a noun phrase, not an adverb. In summary, the compound word someday is an adverb. The two-word phrase some day comprises an adjective and a noun.
Also, what type of word is someday?
The adverb someday is written solid: Perhaps someday we will know the truth. The two-word form some day means “a specific but unnamed day”: We will reschedule the meeting for some day when everyone can attend.
How do I know how many days old I am?
Calculating age
Although you can have a rough stab in the dark by multiplying your age in years by 365, you could still be out by up to several hundred days. This will be in most part because you‘ll be working on the basis of your age at your last birthday, and therefore excluding the days since.
Is 2020 a Lear year?
2020 is a leap year, a 366-day-long year. Every four years, we add an extra day, February 29, to our calendars. For example, without correction the calendar year would be off by about one day after four years. It’d be off by about 25 days after 100 years.
Write Your Answer
Sometimes, it’s not spelling that makes all the difference. It’s choosing whether or not to write something as one word or two. That extra space (or its absence) is important, just like how a simple hyphen can transform “recreation” (an activity you do for fun) to “re-creation” (the act of creating something again). So, what’s the difference between writing “someday” as one word and “some day” as two?
The Indefinite Someday
When written as a single word, someday is an adverb that refers to something that will happen at some indeterminate and indefinite time in the future. It’s some unspecified future time.
- I’m going to be a successful YouTube celebrity someday.
- Someday, I’ll get around to visiting Easter Island.
- Baggy jeans will be fashionable again someday, right?
The Unspecified Some Day
The most important difference to remember with some day written as two words is that “some” function as an adjective modifying the noun “day.” In this way, “some day” refers to a very specific, single day, even if the exact day itself is unknown or unspecified.
- Stephen Hawking was born some day in 1942.
- My friend is coming to visit me some day next month.
- You’ll receive the test results some day in the next week or two.
While traditionalists have made a clear distinction between the two terms, Oxford Dictionaries recognizes the rising tendency to “fuse fixed expressions,” more so in American English than in British English. As a result, occurrences of “someday” outnumber “some day” in American English by a factor of about 4-to-1. Even when someone might really mean “some day,” they could just write “someday.”
Some Day or Someday Pop Quiz!
Just as how the difference between “every day” and “everyday” can seem confusing at first, differentiating between “someday” and “some day” may require a little bit of practice. So, here’s a little bit of practice.
- Your tax return is due (some day / someday) next month.
- We hope that (someday / some day), none of this will matter.
- Is this going to get cheaper (some day / someday) or not?
- (Some day / Someday) you’ll look back and remember what you did.
- I really ought to redeem this offer (someday / some day).
Comment with your answers below!
Tags: parts of speech, some day, word choice