You're typing out a quick email or maybe a text that's getting a little too heated, and you hit that wall. Is it one word? Is it two? What ever vs whatever isn't just some dusty rule from a 1950s grammar textbook that nobody reads anymore. It actually changes the entire vibe of your sentence.
Honestly, most of us just mash the keys and let autocorrect take the wheel. But autocorrect is often a liar.
If you're writing "what ever" because you think it looks more formal, you might actually be making a massive blunder. On the flip side, if you're using "whatever" to dismiss someone, you’re using a linguistic tool that has evolved over centuries from a simple pronoun into a weapon of teenage angst. Words are weird like that.
The One-Word Wonder: When Whatever is the Only Choice
Most of the time—roughly 90% of the time if we’re being real—you want the single word. Whatever is a powerhouse. It’s a relative pronoun. It’s an adjective. It’s an interjection that can end an argument or start one.
Think about the classic dismissive shrug. "Whatever, I don't care." You would never write "What ever, I don't care." It looks broken. It feels wrong. That's because, in this context, the word has become an exclamation.
But it goes deeper than just being salty. When you say, "Take whatever you want," you’re using it as a determiner. It represents anything or everything. It’s inclusive. It’s broad. Linguist John McWhorter often talks about how English loves to smush words together until they become a new entity entirely, and that is exactly what happened here. The two parts lost their individual identities to become a Swiss Army knife of a word.
If you can replace the word with "anything that" or "it doesn't matter what," you are 100% in the territory of the single word.
Why we get confused by the compound
Our brains like patterns. We see "any way" and "anyway" or "every day" and "everyday" and we assume the same logic applies to whatever. But English is a chaotic language. It doesn't play fair. While "everyday" (one word) is an adjective and "every day" (two words) is an adverbial phrase, the split between our target words is much more about emphasis.
The Rare Case for What Ever (Two Words)
So, when do you actually hit the space bar?
You do it when you want to sound shocked. Or confused. Or maybe a little bit like a character in a Victorian novel who just saw a ghost.
What ever as two words is almost exclusively used for emphasis in questions.
Imagine you walk into your kitchen and there is a goat standing on your table. You wouldn't ask, "Whatever are you doing?" (Well, you could, but it sounds a bit flat). You would ask, "What ever are you doing?"
By separating the words, you are putting a massive linguistic spotlight on the "what." It’s a way of saying "What in the world" or "What on earth." The "ever" isn't really part of the pronoun anymore; it's an intensifier. It’s there to add flavor, drama, and a bit of "I can’t believe this is happening" energy.
The "In the World" Test
If you are staring at your screen wondering if you should split them up, try this one simple trick. Swap the "ever" for "in the world."
- "What in the world are you wearing?" (Works. Use what ever).
- "Eat in the world you want." (Complete nonsense. Use whatever).
It’s a foolproof litmus test. If "in the world" or "on earth" fits perfectly, the two-word version is your friend. If it makes you sound like you're having a stroke, stick to the single word.
Historical Context: How We Got Here
Language isn't static. It’s a living, breathing mess. If you look back at Old English or even Early Modern English, you see a lot more fluidity.
Back in the day—think Shakespeare’s era—the spelling wasn't as codified as it is now. People just wrote what they felt. But as we moved into the 18th and 19th centuries, grammarians decided we needed some order. This is where the distinction between the compound and the emphatic phrase really started to bake into the language.
The Oxford English Dictionary tracks the use of "whatever" back centuries, but the "whatever" as a sarcastic interjection is a relatively new phenomenon. It gained massive cultural traction in the late 20th century. Think about the 90s. The movie Clueless. The "W" hand gesture.
Suddenly, a word that meant "anything that" became a way to signal total emotional detachment. This shift is what linguists call "semantic bleaching." The original meaning fades away, and a new, more pragmatic meaning takes over. When you say "whatever" to your boss (not recommended), you aren't saying "anything that you say." You're saying "I am ending this conversation because I am annoyed."
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Common Blunders in Professional Writing
In a business setting, getting this wrong can make you look slightly unpolished. Not "fired on the spot" unpolished, but "did they pay attention in school?" unpolished.
Let’s look at a few real-world sentences where people trip up:
- The Over-Correction: "We will provide what ever support you need."
- Correction: This should be "whatever." You aren't asking an emphatic question; you're offering general support.
- The Missed Emphasis: "Whatever did he mean by that?"
- Correction: While not technically "wrong" in modern usage, "What ever did he mean?" carries the intended weight of surprise much better.
- The Formal Faux Pas: Using "what ever" in a contract to sound fancy.
- Correction: Contracts should almost always use "whatever" because they are defining parameters, not expressing surprise.
A Note on Modern Style Guides
Most modern style guides, like The Chicago Manual of Style or The AP Stylebook, lean heavily toward the single word unless the emphasis is unavoidable. They value clarity over archaic flair. If you're writing for a blog, a news site, or a social media caption, the single word is your safest bet.
The two-word version is becoming a "relic" usage. It’s not dead, but it’s definitely resting.
Semantic Satiation and the Death of Meaning
Have you ever said a word so many times it starts to sound like gibberish?
Whatever. Whatever. Whatever.
Eventually, it just becomes a collection of vowels and consonants. This happens because our brains stop processing the meaning and only focus on the sound. This is why "whatever" is such a powerful tool in arguments. It’s a word that specifically seeks to drain the meaning out of the other person's point.
When you use the two-word what ever, you are doing the opposite. You are injecting more meaning. You are demanding an explanation.
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Practical Steps to Master the Difference
Stop overthinking it. Seriously.
If you are writing a standard sentence, use whatever. It is the default. It is the workhorse. It handles 99% of situations without breaking a sweat.
Only reach for what ever if you are writing dialogue or a very expressive piece of prose where someone is genuinely shocked. If there isn't a question mark at the end of the sentence, you almost certainly shouldn't be using two words.
Think of it like this:
- Whatever = The Multitool.
- What ever = The Fancy Silver Spoon you only bring out for guests.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Draft
- Search your document for "what ever." If it’s not in a question, delete the space.
- Read it aloud. If you don't naturally pause or emphasize the "what," it should be one word.
- Check the tone. Are you being dismissive or inclusive? Use one word. Are you being incredulous? Use two.
- Trust the "Anything" Rule. If you can swap it for "anything," keep it together.
Grammar doesn't have to be a headache. It’s just about knowing which tool to grab from the box. Most of the time, you’re just looking for the one-word version to get the job done. Save the two-word version for those moments when life actually surprises you.
Next time you're about to hit send, just do a quick scan. Did you use the "in the world" test? If so, you're golden. Now go write something that actually matters and stop worrying about the small stuff. Or, you know, do whatever you want.