Which Is Correct a While or Awhile?

Awhile is an adverb that means "for a while," whereas "while" is a noun meaning "a period of time." Generally, you should use the two word form, "a while," when following a preposition (I will read for a while), or with the words ago or back (a while ago/back).

How do you use awhile in a sentence?

Awhile sentence example
  1. Maybe you should hold off awhile until your shoulder gets better. ...
  2. "I might be gone awhile , Talia," she said. ...
  3. At last they reached a great forest, and, being quite tired, they decided to rest awhile and look for nuts before going any further.

Is it stay awhile or stay a while?

So dictionaries categorize it as an adverb. It can modify a verb like “stay,” as in “stay awhile.” But here comes the hard part: A noun phrase that expresses a time element or duration is an adverbial. So “Stay a while,” which uses the noun “while,” is correct.

Robert Thorne

Robert Thorne

Automotive & Future Transportation Editor

Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.