Difference Between "dinnertime" and "dinner t

[al125106]

I encountered a word spelt "dinnertime" which to me should be spelt "dinner time". Suppose if there is really such a spelling, does it make any difference in the meaning?

[RonBee]

It (dinner time) means the same whether it is written as one word or two.

8)

[John D]

I encountered a word spelt "dinnertime" which to me should be spelt "dinner time". Suppose if there is really such a spelling, does it make any difference in the meaning?

Hi,
I am not a teacher. Just someone who has been using English for a very long time. Too long, some say...hehehehe.

According to Merriam-Webster OnLine, dinnertime......the time when dinner is taken.

For dinner time the meaning should logically be different. I would use it if I was going to set a time for dinner.
As from today, twelve noon will be recognised as dinner time.
I am open to correction on this.

Hope this helps. :)
John D.

[Anonymous]

I encountered a word spelt "dinnertime" which to me should be spelt "dinner time". Suppose if there is really such a spelling, does it make any difference in the meaning?

Hi,
I am not a teacher. Just someone who has been using English for a very long time. Too long, some say...hehehehe.

According to Merriam-Webster OnLine, dinnertime......the time when dinner is taken.

For dinner time the meaning should logically be different. I would use it if I was going to set a time for dinner.
As from today, twelve noon will be recognised as dinner time.
I am open to correction on this.

Hope this helps. :)
John D.

I think I get where you're coming from, but to me it's just a very small semantical difference.

I would just think the two are the same.

What about "lunchtime"? Is that a word? Let's find out.

lunch·time (lŭnch'tīm')
n.
The time during which lunch is usually eaten.

Interesting. I would have thought that to be two words. I guess ya learn something new every day as the old saying goes..........

[John D]

Hi cityspeak, :D ,

Ya shure does.

I've bin learnin fo a loooooooooooong time an I still no nuthin.

[RonBee]

It is not at all unusual for a comon two word collocation to eventually become treated as one word. In fact, it is quite common. Unless people start using them differently, I would regard dinner time and dinnertime as the same. The same goes for lunch time and lunchtime.

Two words sometimes means the same thing as one.

8)

[Anonymous]

Good point.

I would have gone for two words on "dinner time". I don't think I would have thought of it as one word. Same thing with "lunch time".

[Anonymous]

Hi cityspeak, :D ,

Ya shure does.

I've bin learnin fo a loooooooooooong time an I still no nuthin.

Me too.


8) 8) :) :wink:

[Anonymous]

Go for "dinnertime" the other is too marked/emphatic in talking about the regular *mealtime.

*There's another