The phrases “All-Time Favorite” vs “All Times Favorite” often confuse writers because they look very similar.
When talking about the best or most loved thing throughout history, the phrase “All-Time Favorite” is the proper choice. It describes something that remains a top choice over time, such as a favorite song, movie, book, or memory. The phrase “All Times Favorite” is generally incorrect because “all-time” works as a compound adjective that modifies a noun. Understanding this difference helps improve your grammar accuracy, writing style, and everyday communication. In this article, we’ll explain the meaning, usage, and examples of both phrases. The term “All-Time Favorite” refers to something that has been loved or preferred for many years and continues to hold a special place among people. It is commonly used in English writing, reviews, and conversations to highlight a person’s most cherished choice.
For example, someone might say, “This movie is my all-time favorite,” meaning it is the best movie they have ever enjoyed. The phrase combines “all” and “time” with a hyphen because they work together as one adjective. This small punctuation detail makes a big difference in correct grammar. Learning when to use all-time favorite instead of all times favorite can help writers avoid common mistakes and create clearer, more professional content. Many people mistakenly write “All Times Favorite” because they think it means a favorite across multiple periods or occasions. However, this form does not follow standard English grammar rules. The correct phrase is always “All-Time Favorite” when describing a single outstanding choice. Whether you are writing a blog post, social media caption, review, or personal message, using the right expression makes your writing more natural. The phrase all-time favorite is widely accepted and appears frequently in American English. By understanding this simple difference, you can improve your vocabulary, avoid spelling mistakes, and communicate your ideas with greater confidence.
The Short Answer: Which Phrase Is Correct?
Here’s the quick verdict.
| Phrase | Correct? | Meaning |
| All-time favorite | Yes | Your favorite thing ever |
| Favorite of all time | Yes | Same meaning as all-time favorite |
| All times favorite | Usually incorrect | Grammatically awkward and unnatural |
Examples
The Beatles are my all-time favorite band.
Chocolate cake is my all-time favorite dessert.
The Beatles are my all times favorite band.
Chocolate cake is my all times favorite dessert.
If you’re writing an essay, email, article, or social media post, all-time favorite is almost always the phrase you want.
What Does “All-Time Favorite” Mean?
The expression all-time favorite refers to something you like more than anything else throughout your entire life or throughout history.
In simple terms, it means:
Your absolute favorite, above all others.
Examples
- My all-time favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption.
- Pizza is my all-time favorite food.
- Autumn is her all-time favorite season.
- That was my all-time favorite vacation.
The phrase can describe almost anything:
- Books
- Songs
- Foods
- Sports teams
- Actors
- Cities
- Hobbies
- Memories
Think of it this way. If your preferences were in a race, your all-time favorite would finish in first place every single time.
Why “All-Time Favorite” Is Correct
To understand why the phrase works, let’s break it apart.
The Word “All”
The word all means:
- Every
- Entire
- The whole amount
The Word “Time”
In this expression, time refers to:
- All history
- Your lifetime
- Every period that has existed
When combined, all-time becomes a compound adjective meaning:
Throughout all history or throughout one’s entire experience.
Examples of Similar Usage
- All-time high
- All-time record
- All-time great
- All-time best seller
In every case, all-time acts like a single descriptive unit.
For example:
- Michael Jordan is an all-time great basketball player.
- The company reached an all-time high in profits.
The same rule applies to all-time favorite.
Why “All Times Favorite” Is Usually Incorrect
The problem lies in the word times.
The plural noun times usually refers to:
- Different occasions
- Various periods
- Multiple instances
For example:
- I visited Paris three times.
- Those were difficult times.
Now look at the phrase:
all times favorite
Literally, it means:
Favorite of every separate time.
That doesn’t make logical sense in English.
Native speakers don’t use the expression because it sounds incomplete and awkward.
Incorrect Examples
This is my all times favorite movie.
She is my all times favorite singer.
Pizza is my all times favorite food.
Correct Versions
This is my all-time favorite movie.
She is my all-time favorite singer.
Pizza is my all-time favorite food.
English often behaves like a puzzle. One small letter can change whether a phrase sounds natural or completely wrong.
Is “All Times Favorite” Ever Correct?
Technically, there are rare situations where the words all times can appear together.
For example:
Historians study music from all times and cultures.
Here, all times means every historical period.
However, this usage is completely different from the phrase all-time favorite.
Compare the Two
| Sentence | Correct? |
| This is my all-time favorite song. | |
| Historians study literature from all times. | |
| This is my all times favorite song. |
The second sentence works because all times acts as a noun phrase rather than an adjective.
In everyday writing, you’ll almost never need to write all times favorite.
Why So Many People Make This Mistake
Grammar mistakes often happen for predictable reasons.
People Hear More Than They Read
When spoken quickly, all-time favorite can sound like:
alltimefavorite
Listeners may mistakenly assume the phrase contains the plural word times.
Hyphenated Words Cause Confusion
English uses many compound adjectives:
- Long-term
- Full-time
- High-speed
- World-famous
Because these words are joined with hyphens, learners sometimes struggle to identify where one word ends and another begins.
Translation From Other Languages
Some languages don’t use compound adjectives in the same way English does. Direct translation can create awkward phrases.
Autocorrect Errors
Spell-check tools occasionally fail to catch context mistakes.
A sentence can be grammatically wrong even if every individual word is spelled correctly.
Why the Hyphen Matters in “All-Time Favorite”
The hyphen is more important than many people realize.
Correct
- My all-time favorite book.
- Her all-time favorite dessert.
Incorrect
- My all time favorite book.
Although some style guides occasionally allow the version without a hyphen after a verb, most professional writers still prefer the hyphen.
Why?
Because the hyphen turns two separate words into one descriptive unit.
Think of it as glue.
Without the hyphen, readers may need to pause and interpret the sentence.
Other Compound Adjectives That Work the Same Way
| Correct Phrase | Meaning |
| Full-time employee | Works regular hours |
| Long-term investment | Investment for many years |
| High-speed internet | Fast internet |
| World-famous chef | Known worldwide |
| Last-minute decision | Decision made very late |
The phrase all-time favorite follows exactly the same grammatical pattern.
Should You Ever Write “All Time Favorite” Without the Hyphen?
This is where grammar becomes a little more flexible.
Before a Noun
The hyphen is strongly recommended.
My all-time favorite movie.
Her all-time favorite singer.
After a Verb
Both versions sometimes appear.
This movie is my all-time favorite.
This movie is my all time favorite.
However, most editors and major dictionaries still prefer:
This movie is my all-time favorite.
Consistency matters in professional writing.
Read This Also: Pent vs Pant Usage and Difference Explained:
Examples of “All-Time Favorite” in Everyday English
The phrase appears everywhere.
Movies
- The Godfather is my all-time favorite movie.
- Star Wars remains an all-time favorite for millions of fans.
Music
- Queen is my all-time favorite band.
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” is an all-time favorite song.
Food
- Sushi is my all-time favorite meal.
- Ice cream remains an all-time favorite dessert.
Sports
- Serena Williams is my all-time favorite athlete.
- Lionel Messi is my all-time favorite soccer player.
Books
- To Kill a Mockingbird is my all-time favorite novel.
Case Study: Why Native Speakers Instantly Notice the Error
Imagine you write:
Harry Potter is my all times favorite book.
A native speaker immediately notices something feels off.
Why?
Because all-time favorite is a fixed expression. It’s stored in the brain as one complete phrase, much like:
- Once upon a time
- Better late than never
- Piece of cake
Changing one word breaks the expression.
It’s similar to saying:
Better later than never.
The meaning is close, but native speakers know it isn’t the standard phrase.
Common Expressions Similar to “All-Time Favorite”
The word all-time appears in many popular phrases.
| Expression | Meaning |
| All-time high | Highest point ever |
| All-time low | Lowest point ever |
| All-time record | Historical record |
| All-time best seller | One of the best-selling products ever |
| All-time great | One of history’s greatest |
Examples
- The stock market reached an all-time high.
- The team suffered an all-time low in attendance.
- She became an all-time great in tennis.
Learning these phrases helps you understand why all-time favorite is completely natural.
All-Time Favorite vs. Favorite of All Time
Both expressions are correct.
However, they sound slightly different.
| Phrase | Naturalness | Formality |
| All-time favorite | Very natural | Neutral |
| Favorite of all time | Natural | Slightly formal |
Examples
- Batman is my all-time favorite superhero.
- Batman is my favorite superhero of all time.
The meanings are identical.
The first version simply sounds more concise.
Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid
Many people accidentally write these incorrect forms.
Incorrect
My all times favorite movie.
She is my all times favorite singer.
This is my all times best memory.
It is my all time’s favorite book.
Correct
My all-time favorite movie.
She is my all-time favorite singer.
This is my all-time favorite memory.
It is my all-time favorite book.
How to Remember the Correct Phrase
A simple trick can save you from making the mistake again.
Replace the phrase with:
favorite of all time
If the sentence still makes sense, then use:
all-time favorite
Example
This is my favorite of all time movie.
That sounds awkward.
So we naturally say:
This is my all-time favorite movie.
Another trick:
Remember these three words:
All + Time = One Idea
The hyphen joins them into a single adjective.
Examples From Popular Culture
The phrase appears constantly in entertainment and sports journalism.
Sports
- Michael Jordan is often called an all-time great.
- Tom Brady is considered an all-time favorite among many football fans.
Movies
Critics frequently write:
- One of the all-time favorite animated films.
- An all-time classic comedy.
Music
You’ll often see headlines like:
- Fans vote for their all-time favorite songs.
- The band’s all-time favorite album finally returns to streaming platforms.
Because the phrase is so common, using all times favorite immediately stands out as a mistake.
Mini Grammar Lesson: Compound Adjectives
A compound adjective happens when two or more words work together to describe a noun.
Examples
| Compound Adjective | Example Sentence |
| Full-time | She has a full-time job. |
| Long-term | They need a long-term plan. |
| Well-known | He is a well-known actor. |
| High-quality | They sell high-quality furniture. |
| All-time | This is my all-time favorite movie. |
Compound adjectives improve clarity and often make sentences shorter and more natural.
Quick Quiz: Test Yourself
Choose the correct answer.
Question One
This is my _______ dessert.
A. all times favorite
B. all-time favorite
Answer: B
Question Two
She is my _______ actress.
A. all-time favorite
B. all times favorite
Answer: A
Question Three
The company reached an _______ high.
A. all-time
B. all times
Answer: A
Question Four
Historians study cultures from _______.
A. all times
B. all-time
Answer: A
This example works because all times means every historical period.
FAQs
1. Is all-time favorite the correct phrase?
Yes, all-time favorite is the correct and widely accepted phrase. It describes something that has remained a person’s favorite choice over a long period or throughout history. For example, “This movie is my all-time favorite” means it is the best or most loved movie among all others.
2. Why is all times favorite considered incorrect?
The phrase all times favorite is usually incorrect because all times does not work as a compound adjective in this context. The correct form is all-time favorite, where the hyphen connects the words to show that the favorite has lasted across all periods of time.
3. Can I write all time favorite without a hyphen?
In most cases, all-time favorite should include a hyphen because it works as a compound adjective before a noun. Writing all time favorite without the hyphen is common in informal writing, but all-time favorite is the grammatically preferred form.
4. What is an example of using all-time favorite correctly?
A correct example is: “Chocolate cake has always been my all-time favorite dessert.” Here, the phrase shows that chocolate cake has been the speaker’s top choice for many years.
5. Is all-time favorite used in American English?
Yes, all-time favorite is commonly used in American English and appears frequently in everyday conversations, reviews, and articles. It is a natural phrase for describing something that holds a special place as a long-lasting favorite.
Conclusion
The phrase all-time favorite is the correct and standard expression when talking about a person’s most loved choice of all time. The hyphen makes the meaning clear by connecting the words as a compound adjective. Whether you are discussing a favorite movie, song, book, food, or memory, this phrase shows that something has remained special for a long period.
On the other hand, all times favorite is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Using the proper phrase all-time favorite helps your writing sound more natural, professional, and accurate. Remembering this small grammar difference can improve your English writing skills and help you avoid common usage mistakes.
