Many English learners wonder whether they should write “whatever” or “what ever.” The correct choice depends on how the words are being used in a sentence.
In modern English, “whatever” is usually written as one word when it means “anything that,” “no matter what,” or when it is used to show indifference.
For example, “Choose whatever you like” and “Whatever happens, stay calm” are both correct.
“What ever” as two separate words is much less common. It is normally used when “ever” adds emphasis to the question word “what.”
For example, “What ever did you mean?” sounds more emphatic or surprised than the ordinary “What did you mean?” Understanding this small difference can help students avoid a common spelling mistake .
Quick Answer
“Whatever” is normally the correct form when you mean “anything,” “no matter what,” or “it does not matter what.” “What ever” is used separately when “ever” emphasizes “what,” usually in a question. In everyday writing, whatever is much more common.
Why Do People Confuse It?
People confuse whatever and what ever because they contain the same two words: what + ever.
English often combines words over time when they develop a special meaning. Whatever has become an established compound word with several meanings.
Compare:
- Whatever you choose is fine. = Anything you choose is fine.
- Whatever happens, don’t worry. = No matter what happens, don’t worry.
- What ever made you say that? = What on earth made you say that?
The first two examples use whatever as a single word. The third uses what ever to give extra emphasis to what.
First Word: Whatever
Whatever is a standard English word. It can function as a pronoun, determiner, or conjunction depending on the sentence.
It commonly means:
- anything that
- any thing or things that
- no matter what
- it does not matter what
Examples of “whatever”
- Take whatever you need.
- Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.
- You can eat whatever you want.
- Whatever happens, remain calm.
In informal conversation, whatever can also express indifference:
“Which movie should we watch?”
“Whatever.”
Here, the speaker means that they do not have a preference.
Second Word: What Ever
What ever is not normally an alternative spelling of whatever.
When written as two words, what carries its normal meaning, while ever adds emphasis.
For example:
- What ever could he mean?
- What ever possessed you to do that?
- What ever happened to your old car?
In these sentences, ever gives the question a stronger, more emotional, or more surprised tone.
In many ordinary questions, however, what is enough:
- What did you do?
- What happened?
- What does she want?
Therefore, do not automatically separate whatever simply because it can be understood as “what + ever.”
Whatever vs What Ever: Comparison Table
| Feature | Whatever | What ever |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling | One word | Two words |
| Commonness | Very common | Less common |
| Main use | “Anything that” or “no matter what” | Adds emphasis to “what” |
| Example | Whatever you choose is fine. | What ever made you think that? |
| Meaning | Any option or possibility | An emphatic “what” |
| Typical context | Statements, clauses, informal replies | Emphatic questions |
When Should You Use Each?
Use “whatever” when you mean “anything that”
Use whatever when you are talking about any thing, choice, or option that meets a condition.
Example:
You can choose whatever you like.
This means:
You can choose anything you like.
Use “whatever” to mean “no matter what”
Example:
Whatever happens, keep trying.
This means:
No matter what happens, keep trying.
Use “whatever” to show indifference
In informal English, whatever can mean that a person does not care which option is chosen.
Example:
“Tea or coffee?”
“Whatever.”
The exact tone depends on context. It can sound relaxed, dismissive, annoyed, or uninterested.
Use “what ever” when “ever” emphasizes “what”
Use the two-word form when ever is functioning separately to make a question more emphatic.
Example:
What ever were you thinking?
The speaker is not simply asking “what.” They are expressing surprise, disbelief, or strong curiosity.
10+ Examples of Whatever and What Ever
Examples with “whatever”
- Whatever you choose will be acceptable.
- Eat whatever you want.
- Take whatever books you need.
- Whatever happens, don’t give up.
- I’ll help you whatever you decide.
- You can call me whenever you want, and we can discuss whatever you need.
- Whatever the reason, we should solve the problem.
- She believes whatever her teacher tells her.
- Choose whatever color you prefer.
- Whatever happens next, we’ll deal with it together.
- He will support you whatever decision you make.
Examples with “what ever”
- What ever made you think that?
- What ever happened to that old shop?
- What ever were you doing there?
- What ever could she have meant?
The two-word examples are more emphatic. In many contexts, removing ever leaves a perfectly normal question:
What made you think that?
Adding ever gives the question additional emphasis:
What ever made you think that?
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Writing “what ever” when you mean “anything”
Incorrect:
Take what ever you need.
Correct:
Take whatever you need.
Here, whatever means “anything that.”
Mistake 2: Assuming “whatever” is always two words
Because whatever contains what + ever, learners sometimes separate it automatically.
But whatever is an established single word when it has its normal indefinite or concessive meanings.
Mistake 3: Thinking “what ever” is always wrong
This is also incorrect.
What ever can be grammatically appropriate when ever is being used separately for emphasis.
What ever could have caused this?
The two-word form is possible, but it has a different function from ordinary whatever.
Mistake 4: Using “whatever” in formal writing without considering tone
The word itself is perfectly standard, but the standalone response “Whatever.” can sound dismissive.
For example:
“I don’t care. Whatever.”
This may sound rude depending on the situation. In formal communication, a more precise response is usually better.
Memory Trick
Use this simple rule:
“Whatever” = anything / no matter what.
“What ever” = an emphatic “what?”
Try replacing whatever with anything that or no matter what.
If the sentence still makes sense, whatever is probably the right choice.
Whatever you want → Anything that you want
Whatever happens → No matter what happens
American vs British English
The basic distinction between whatever and what ever is essentially the same in American and British English.
Both varieties commonly use whatever as a single word for meanings such as “anything that” and “no matter what.”
The two-word what ever construction can also appear in both varieties when ever adds emphasis to what. Differences are more likely to involve pronunciation, tone, or context rather than the basic spelling rule.
Similar Words
Several other English words work in a similar way to whatever.
Whoever
Whoever means “any person who” or “no matter who.”
Whenever
Whenever can mean “at any time that” or “no matter when.”
Wherever
Wherever means “in any place that” or “no matter where.”
However
However has several meanings, including “in whatever way” and “but/nevertheless,” depending on context.
These words are generally written as single words when they have their established meanings.
Final Verdict
Whatever is the correct and much more common choice when you mean “anything that,” “no matter what,” or when you use the word as an informal expression of indifference.
What ever is used when ever separately emphasizes what, especially in an emphatic question.
The easiest test is to check the meaning:
- Anything / no matter what → whatever
- Emphatic “what?” → what ever
FAQs
Is “whatever” one word or two?
Whatever is normally one word. Use it when it means “anything that,” “no matter what,” or a similar established meaning.
Is “what ever” grammatically correct?
Yes, what ever can be grammatically correct when ever is used separately to emphasize what in a question.
Which is more common: “whatever” or “what ever”?
Whatever is much more common in ordinary modern English because it has several established meanings and uses.
What is an example of “whatever”?
Here, whatever means “anything that.”
What is an example of “what ever”?
Here, ever adds emphasis to what.
Is “whatever” rude?
Not necessarily. It depends on how it is used. Whatever can be completely neutral, but the standalone response “Whatever.” can sound dismissive or annoyed in conversation.
Can “whatever” mean “no matter what”?
Yes. For example:
This means:
How can I remember the difference between “whatever” and “what ever”?
Remember: whatever = anything/no matter what, while what ever = emphasized what.
Remember This
Whatever is usually one word.
Use whatever for:
- anything that
- no matter what
- an informal expression of indifference
Use what ever when ever is separately emphasizing what, usually in an emphatic question.
Whatever you choose is fine.
What ever made you think that?
That small difference will help you choose the correct form confidently.
Conclusion
The difference between whatever and what ever is mainly about meaning and grammatical function, not simply spelling.
Whatever is the normal single-word form when it means “anything that,” “no matter what,” or expresses a lack of preference. It is common in both everyday and formal English.
What ever is possible when ever works separately to emphasize what, particularly in expressive questions.
When you are unsure, check if you can replace the word with “anything that” or “no matter what.” If you can, whatever is usually the form you need.
