Of All Time vs. Of All Times – Which is Correct?
When describing the greatest person, place, event, or work across history, use of all time. Of all times is not the standard phrase for this meaning, but it can be grammatical when referring to multiple periods or occasions. Choose carefully: one expresses superlative historical status; the other describes times.
Of All Time or Of All Times – Which Is Correct?
Of all time is the correct and established expression when you mean “ever” or “throughout the whole of history.” It commonly follows a superlative or ranking expression, such as the best of all time, one of the greatest films of all time, or the most important invention of all time.
Of all times is not normally interchangeable with of all time. It may be grammatical when times means separate periods, occasions, or historical eras, but it is relatively uncommon. In many situations, at all times, throughout all time, or across different times will sound more natural.
This distinction is similar to Anytime vs. Any Time, where spacing can change the intended meaning.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “ever” test. If you can replace the phrase with ever, choose of all time: “the best athlete ever” becomes “the best athlete of all time.” Use of all times only when you are genuinely discussing multiple distinct periods or occasions.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| of all time | Fixed prepositional phrase | Ever; across the whole of history | She is one of the greatest singers of all time. |
| of all times | Fixed prepositional phrase | Of multiple periods or occasions | The exhibit compares customs of all times and cultures. |
How to Use Of All Time
Of all time is a fixed phrase used to describe something that ranks exceptionally highly across the entire span of history. It usually appears after a superlative adjective, a ranking phrase, or a noun associated with achievement. The expression is neutral in grammar but common in casual conversation, journalism, advertising, sports commentary, entertainment reviews, and cultural criticism.
Because it makes a sweeping historical claim, the phrase is often subjective. A statement such as the best movie of all time expresses an opinion unless it is supported by a specific ranking, survey, or authority.
Example 1: Many fans consider the novel one of the most influential books of all time.
Example 2: The final match is remembered as one of the greatest games of all time.
Example 3: Which invention has had the greatest impact of all time?
Etymology of the phrase of all time
The phrase combines the preposition of, the determiner all, and the singular noun time. In this expression, time refers collectively to the entire span of history rather than to one particular moment. The phrase became especially common in modern English through superlative statements in criticism, journalism, sports, and popular culture.
How to Use Of All Times
Of all times can be grammatically valid, but it has a narrower and less idiomatic use than of all time. The plural noun times emphasizes separate periods, ages, occasions, or circumstances. It may appear in historical, literary, religious, or formal writing when the writer is comparing multiple eras or referring broadly to changing conditions.
However, many sentences that use of all times are actually intended to mean ever. In those cases, of all time is the correct choice. Also, when the intended meaning is “always,” use at all times, not of all times.
Example 1: The museum explores medical practices of all times, from ancient remedies to modern surgery.
Example 2: Myths of all times often explain natural events through stories and symbolism.
Example 3: The historian compared the laws of different nations and of all times.
Etymology of the phrase of all times
Of all times uses the plural form of time to refer to multiple periods or occasions. The noun time has ancient Germanic roots and has long referred both to duration and to a particular era or occasion. The plural form developed naturally from the second meaning, although modern English usually prefers more specific expressions such as of different eras or throughout history.
Related Concepts
Understanding superlatives, idioms, and the different meanings of time makes this distinction easier to apply.
- Superlative expressions: A superlative identifies the highest or lowest degree within a group, as in the greatest, the most popular, or the worst. The phrase of all time commonly completes this type of comparison.
- Fixed phrases: A fixed phrase has a conventional form that should not be changed casually. Of all time is the established expression for “ever.”
- Singular and plural nouns: Singular time can refer to time as a whole, while plural times can refer to separate eras or occasions.
- Prepositional phrases: Both expressions begin with the preposition of, but the complete phrase—not just the individual words—determines the intended meaning.
Examples from Media and Literature
The standard phrase of all time appears frequently in reviews, rankings, headlines, and discussions of cultural achievement:
- A film review may describe Citizen Kane as one of the greatest movies of all time.
- A sports article may call a championship final one of the most dramatic matches of all time.
- A music magazine may rank an influential album among the best recordings of all time.
- A literary discussion may describe Shakespeare as one of the most widely studied playwrights of all time.
- A news report may refer to a major scientific discovery as one of the most significant breakthroughs of all time.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence: of all time or of all times.
- She is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes ______.
- The archive contains writings from ______ and many different cultures.
- That concert was one of the most memorable performances ______.
- The course examines ideas from ______, including the ancient and modern worlds.
- Which is the most successful video game franchise ______?
Answer Key
- of all time — The phrase means “ever” and follows the superlative greatest.
- of all times — The sentence refers to multiple periods and cultures.
- of all time — The performance is being ranked across history.
- of all times — The sentence discusses ideas from separate historical eras.
- of all time — The question asks for the most successful franchise ever.
Of All Time Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| ever | At any time in history or up to the present |
| greatest ever | Better or more important than all comparable examples in history |
| in history | Across the recorded or known past |
| all-time | Existing or ranking across the entire historical period |
Of All Times Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| of different eras | Belonging to multiple historical periods |
| throughout history | Across the full historical record |
| across the ages | Across many generations or historical periods |
| on various occasions | At multiple separate times or events |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “of all time” or “of all times” correct?
Of all time is correct when you mean “ever,” especially in a superlative expression such as the best of all time. Of all times can be correct when referring to multiple periods or occasions.
Question 2: Is “one of the best of all times” grammatically correct?
It is understandable, but one of the best of all time is the standard and more natural form when ranking something against all examples in history.
Question 3: Should I say “at all times” or “of all times”?
Use at all times when you mean “always,” as in Keep your password private at all times. Use of all times only when referring to multiple periods or occasions.
Question 4: Should “all time” be hyphenated?
The phrase is normally written of all time without a hyphen. The compound adjective all-time is hyphenated before a noun, as in an all-time record.
Conclusion
Use of all time when describing the greatest, most important, or most memorable example ever. Use of all times only when discussing multiple historical periods or occasions, and choose at all times when you mean “always.” Pro Tip: Using the conventional phrase in professional writing strengthens clarity and protects your credibility.
