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Arbizonne Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

All the while/all the time

Hello everyone,
I'm wondering about the difference between "all the while" and "all the time". To my British ear, it sounds odd to use "all the while" at the beginning of a sentence, e.g. "all the while I was writing, I busied myself with promoting my ideas". Do you agree, and if so, why does it sound odd?
Thanks!
Arbizonne
  

Top answer

It sounds wrong to my Finnish ear. I would simply say: While I was writing, I busied myself with promoting my ideas. If extra emphasis were needed to underline that I busied myself with promoting my ideas the entire time I was writing, I would say: All the time while I was writing, I busied myself with promoting my ideas.

— Cool Breeze

  • It sounds wrong to my Finnish ear.
  • I would simply say: While I was writing, I busied myself with promoting my ideas.
  • If extra emphasis were needed to underline that I busied myself with promoting my ideas the entire time I was writing, I would say: All the time while I was writing, I busied myself with promoting my ideas.
  • CB
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1 Answers
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It sounds wrong to my Finnish ear. I would simply say:

While I was writing, I busied myself with promoting my ideas.

If extra emphasis were needed to underline that I busied myself with promoting my ideas the entire time I was writing, I would say:

All the time while I was writing, I busied myself with promoting my ideas.
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