Every Moments vs. Every Moment – Which is Correct?
The correct phrase is “every moment,” not “every moments.” The determiner “every” is followed by a singular count noun, so “moment” must remain singular. Use “every moment” to mean each moment or all moments individually. “Every moments” is a grammatical error in standard English, usually caused by overgeneralizing plural forms.
Because spelling errors can obscure an otherwise clear message, compare this usage with Moment vs. Momment.
Every Moments or Every Moment – Which Is Correct?
Every moment is the correct phrase. The word every refers to members of a group one at a time and must be followed by a singular countable noun. Therefore, say “every moment,” not “every moments.”
Every moments is incorrect when used as a standard phrase. Although “moments” is the plural of “moment,” it cannot follow “every” directly. Compare “every moment” with “all moments”: both can refer to multiple moments, but they use different grammatical structures.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the every-one test. Replace every with each or every single. Because we say “each moment” and “every single moment,” the noun must be singular. If you want a plural noun, use all: “all moments.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| every moments | Incorrect phrase | A nonstandard combination of a determiner and plural noun | Incorrect: “She enjoyed every moments of the trip.” |
| every moment | Determiner + singular noun | Each moment or all moments considered individually | “She enjoyed every moment of the trip.” |
How to Use Every Moment
Every moment is used when you mean each individual moment in a period of time or experience. It can describe enjoyment, attention, importance, memory, or continuous action. The phrase is natural in both casual and formal English.
It commonly appears with prepositions such as of and in, as well as verbs expressing emotion or attention. For example, “every moment of the concert” means each part of the concert, while “every moment matters” means that each moment has importance.
Example 1: We appreciated every moment of our vacation.
Example 2: The medical team monitored the patient every moment during the procedure.
Example 3: She tried to enjoy every moment of her child’s performance.
Etymology of the Phrase Every Moment
Every developed from Old English words meaning “each” or “every one,” while moment comes through Middle English and Old French from Latin momentum, meaning “movement,” “influence,” or “a brief period of time.” Together, every moment expresses the idea of considering each brief period individually.
Related Concepts
Understanding determiners and singular nouns makes it easier to use every moment correctly and avoid the incorrect plural form.
- Determiners: Words such as every, each, many, and all identify or quantify nouns. Different determiners require different noun forms.
- Singular and plural nouns: A singular noun refers to one item, while a plural noun refers to more than one. Every normally takes a singular count noun, whereas all can take a plural noun.
- Subject-verb agreement: Nouns following every are grammatically singular, so they generally take singular verbs. For example, “Every moment matters,” not “Every moment matter.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The correct phrase every moment is common in storytelling, journalism, advertising, and personal writing. The following examples show how it works in different contexts:
- Film reviews: A reviewer might write, “The suspense builds during every moment of the final scene.”
- Sports news: A report could state, “The goalkeeper remained focused every moment of the match.”
- Travel writing: A memoir may describe, “Every moment of the journey revealed something unexpected.”
- Historical fiction: A character might say, “I remembered every moment of that difficult night.”
- Advertising: A campaign may encourage customers to “make every moment count.”
Every Moment Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| each moment | Every individual moment considered separately |
| each instant | Every brief point in time |
| all the time | Continuously or throughout a period |
| continuously | Without stopping or interruption |
| at every turn | At every stage or opportunity, often in changing circumstances |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “every moments” grammatically correct?
No. In standard English, every must be followed by a singular count noun, so the correct phrase is every moment.
Question 2: Why does “every” use a singular noun?
Every distributes attention to members of a group individually. That is why English uses “every moment,” “every day,” and “every idea,” rather than “every moments,” “every days,” or “every ideas.”
Question 3: Can I use “all moments” instead of “every moment”?
Yes, but the emphasis can differ slightly. Every moment highlights each moment individually, while all moments treats the moments as a complete group.
Question 4: Is “each moment” also correct?
Yes. Each moment is a correct alternative to every moment. Both expressions take the singular noun moment.
Conclusion
Every moment is the correct expression, while every moments is a grammatical error. Remember that every and each take singular nouns, whereas all can be followed by a plural noun: “every moment” but “all moments.” Pro tip: using the correct form in professional writing improves clarity and protects your credibility.
