sometime or some time

[baraka]

Hi,
Could you please tell me what the difference is between 'sometime' and 'some time' if there is any at all?

I'll have an exam sometime in June/ some time in June.

Are both sentences correct?

Thanks:
baraka

[Casiopea]

sometime means

"at an undefined time"
EX: Come up and see me sometime.
EX: I have an exam sometime in June.

some time means

"an amount of time"
EX: Mammals arrived some time after the dinosaurs.
EX: I need some time.

SOURCE: http://www.gpuss.co.uk/english_usage/may_be_maybe.htm

[baraka]

That's what I thought, too.

What made me unsure, however, was a sentence in an English course book.

-When is the happy day? (wedding day)
-We're not sure. Perhaps some time in June.

But it should be sometime, right?

So, is it a printing mistake, then?

Thanks,
baraka

[Casiopea]

Right. It should be 'sometime'.

Note that, some time and sometime are 'notorious confusables': you can fit a word between "some" and "time", giving some unknown time, but that's the meaning for "sometime", not "some time".


Hope that helps.

[baraka]

Thanks a lot.

And have a nice day.

[Casiopea]

You're most welcome, baraka.