Have you ever written “This is my all time favorite movie” and then wondered whether the phrase needs a hyphen? You are not alone. Many people use all time favorite and all times favorite when they actually mean all-time favorite, the standard and correct form in English.
The phrase all-time favorite describes something that has remained your most loved or preferred choice over the years. It can refer to a movie, song, book, food, person, place, or memory that holds a special position among all your choices. The hyphen is important because all-time works together as a compound adjective to describe the noun that follows it.
In this article, we will explain All-Time Favorite or All Times Favorite: Which Is Correct? in simple terms. You will learn the difference between all-time favorite, all time favorite, and all times favorite, along with clear examples and useful grammar rules to help you choose the correct expression with confidence.
Quick Answer: Is It “All-Time Favorite” or “All Times Favorite”?
The correct phrase is all-time favorite.
The phrase all times favorite is not grammatically correct in modern English and is almost never used by native speakers or professional writers.
| Phrase | Correct? | Usage |
| All-time favorite | ✅ Yes | Standard English |
| All times favorite | ❌ No | Grammatically incorrect |
If you only remember one thing from this article, remember this:
Always write “all-time favorite,” never “all times favorite.”
What Does “All-Time Favorite” Mean?
An all-time favorite is something you like more than anything else across every period of your life. It represents your top choice, regardless of when you discovered it.
For example, if someone asks about your favorite movie, you might enjoy dozens of films. However, one movie may stand above the rest. That movie becomes your all-time favorite.
The phrase can describe almost anything, including:
- Movies
- Books
- Songs
- Sports teams
- Athletes
- Restaurants
- Foods
- Video games
- Television shows
- Vacation destinations
Think of it this way:
An all-time favorite isn’t just your favorite today. It’s your favorite ever.
That distinction makes the phrase both powerful and meaningful.
Why “All-Time Favorite” Is Grammatically Correct
The reason this phrase works comes down to compound adjectives.
A compound adjective combines two or more words that work together to describe another word.
In all-time favorite, the words all and time join together with a hyphen to create a single adjective that modifies favorite.
Structure:
All-Time + Favorite
Here, all-time answers the question:
What kind of favorite?
The answer is:
A favorite across all time.
Because all-time functions as one descriptive unit, English grammar requires a hyphen.
Why the Hyphen Matters
The hyphen signals that the words belong together.
Compare these examples:
- All-time record
- All-time high
- All-time bestseller
- All-time leading scorer
- All-time champion
In each example, all-time describes the noun that follows.
Without the hyphen, the meaning becomes less clear and looks unprofessional.
Why “All Times Favorite” Is Incorrect
Although all times favorite may sound reasonable when spoken quickly, it doesn’t follow English grammar rules.
The word times is plural, making the phrase awkward because it doesn’t create a proper compound adjective.
Instead of forming one descriptive unit, the words become separate nouns that don’t connect naturally.
Professional dictionaries, grammar guides, newspapers, and publishing style guides consistently use:
✔ all-time favorite
not
✘ all times favorite
This is why you’ll rarely, if ever, see reputable publications using the incorrect version.
Common Reasons People Make This Mistake
Many writers accidentally type all times favorite because of simple misunderstandings.
Some common reasons include:
- Forgetting the hyphen
- Assuming times sounds more natural
- Autocorrect changes
- Speaking the phrase before writing it
- Not understanding compound adjectives
Fortunately, it’s an easy mistake to fix once you know the rule.
All-Time Favorite vs. All Times Favorite
The differences become much clearer when viewed side by side.
| Feature | All-Time Favorite | All Times Favorite |
| Grammar | ✅ Correct | ❌ Incorrect |
| Dictionary Recognition | Yes | No |
| Used by Native Speakers | Frequently | Rarely |
| Professional Writing | Yes | No |
| Academic Writing | Yes | No |
| Journalism | Yes | No |
| Recommended Usage | Always | Never |
Whenever you’re uncertain, choose all-time favorite.
Examples of “All-Time Favorite” in Sentences
Seeing the phrase in context makes it easier to remember.
Everyday Conversation
- Pizza remains my all-time favorite comfort food.
- That song is still my all-time favorite after twenty years.
- She’s my all-time favorite actress.
- Summer is my all-time favorite season.
- Chocolate ice cream will always be my all-time favorite dessert.
School Writing
- Abraham Lincoln is my all-time favorite president to study.
- To Kill a Mockingbird remains my all-time favorite novel.
- Biology became my all-time favorite subject during high school.
- My teacher assigned my all-time favorite research project.
- Shakespeare wrote one of my all-time favorite plays.
Business Writing
- This product has become our customers’ all-time favorite purchase.
- It’s our all-time favorite holiday promotion.
- The campaign became the company’s all-time favorite success story.
- Customer feedback ranked it as the all-time favorite feature.
- The software remains our team’s all-time favorite productivity tool.
Sports Writing
- Michael Jordan is many fans’ all-time favorite basketball player.
- The championship game became the team’s all-time favorite memory.
- This goal ranks among the club’s all-time favorite moments.
- Serena Williams remains an all-time favorite for tennis enthusiasts.
- The coach called it his all-time favorite victory.
Incorrect Examples and Their Corrections
Many mistakes disappear once you compare incorrect and correct versions.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| This is my all times favorite movie. | This is my all-time favorite movie. |
| She’s my all times favorite singer. | She’s my all-time favorite singer. |
| Pizza is my all times favorite food. | Pizza is my all-time favorite food. |
| That’s our all times favorite product. | That’s our all-time favorite product. |
| It became my all times favorite book. | It became my all-time favorite book. |
Notice that every corrected sentence includes the hyphen.
When Should You Use “All-Time Favorite”?
The phrase fits naturally in almost every type of writing.
Casual Conversations
People use it daily when discussing hobbies, entertainment, or personal preferences.
Examples include:
- Favorite TV shows
- Favorite meals
- Favorite vacation spots
- Favorite musicians
Professional Writing
Businesses often describe:
- Best-selling products
- Popular services
- Customer favorites
- Award-winning offerings
Academic Writing
Students can use the phrase when expressing personal opinions in reflective essays or presentations.
Product Reviews
Reviewers frequently write:
“This is my all-time favorite smartphone.”
Marketing
Brands love using the expression because it communicates trust and popularity.
Examples include:
- Our all-time favorite collection
- Customers’ all-time favorite flavor
- Our all-time favorite recipe
Similar Hyphenated Expressions You Should Know
Learning similar expressions helps reinforce the grammar rule.
| Expression | Meaning |
| All-time best | Best ever |
| World-famous | Known worldwide |
| Long-term | Lasting a long period |
| Well-known | Widely recognized |
| Full-time | Regular employment |
| High-quality | Excellent quality |
| Up-to-date | Current and modern |
| State-of-the-art | Using the latest technology |
Notice that each compound adjective uses a hyphen because the words work together before a noun.
Common Grammar Mistakes Related to “All-Time Favorite”
Even experienced writers occasionally make these errors.
Forgetting the Hyphen
Incorrect:
all time favorite movie
Correct:
all-time favorite movie
Using the Plural “Times”
Incorrect:
all times favorite
Correct:
all-time favorite
Capitalizing Every Word
Only capitalize words when required by title style.
Correct in a sentence:
This is my all-time favorite restaurant.
Correct as a title:
All-Time Favorite Movies of the Decade
Overusing the Phrase
While it’s a useful expression, repeating it too often weakens your writing.
Instead, vary your wording with alternatives such as:
- personal favorite
- top pick
- best-loved
- favorite ever
- ultimate choice
Is “All-Time Favorite” Formal or Informal?
One reason the phrase is so popular is its versatility.
Formal Writing
It appears regularly in:
- Newspapers
- Magazine articles
- Academic publications
- Professional reviews
- Business reports
- Sports journalism
Because it follows standard grammar rules, it’s completely acceptable in formal contexts.
Informal Writing
You’ll also find it everywhere online.
Examples include:
- Blog posts
- Social media captions
- Product reviews
- Personal emails
- Text messages
That flexibility makes it one of the most useful descriptive expressions in English.
Synonyms for “All-Time Favorite”
Sometimes you may want to avoid repetition.
Here are several excellent alternatives.
| Alternative | Best Used For |
| Favorite ever | Everyday conversation |
| Personal favorite | Recommendations |
| Top favorite | Casual speech |
| Number one favorite | Strong emphasis |
| Ultimate favorite | Marketing |
| Best-loved | Books and entertainment |
| Most-loved | Reviews |
| Classic favorite | Timeless products |
| Longtime favorite | Long-term popularity |
| Top pick | Product reviews |
Each option works slightly differently, so choose the one that best matches your audience and tone.
A Simple Memory Trick
If you’re unsure which version to use, remember this sentence:
If “all-time” describes a noun, it needs a hyphen.
Think of these examples:
- all-time favorite
- all-time record
- all-time champion
- all-time bestseller
They all follow the same grammatical pattern.
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Real-World Case Study
Imagine two online stores selling identical products.
Store A writes:
“This is our all-time favorite coffee blend.”
Store B writes:
“This is our all times favorite coffee blend.”
Even if customers don’t consciously notice the difference, the first sentence appears more polished and trustworthy. Small grammar choices often influence how readers perceive professionalism and credibility.
That’s why editors, marketers, teachers, and publishers pay close attention to compound adjectives.
Conclusion:
Choosing between All-Time Favorite and All Times Favorite is simple once you understand the grammar rule. All-time favorite is the correct and widely accepted expression because all-time works as a compound adjective describing a favorite that stands out over time. Whether you are talking about a movie, song, book, food, or memory, using the hyphen keeps your writing clear, natural, and grammatically correct. Avoid All Times Favorite when you mean one thing that has remained your favorite for many years.
FAQs:
1. Is “All-Time Favorite” correct?
Yes. All-time favorite is the correct form when describing something that has been your favorite over a long period or among all choices.
2. Is “All Times Favorite” grammatically correct?
No. All Times Favorite is generally considered incorrect when you mean a single favorite. The standard form is all-time favorite.
3. Should “all-time favorite” have a hyphen?
Yes. The hyphen joins all and time to create the compound adjective all-time, which modifies the noun or describes the favorite.
4. Can I say “This is my all-time favorite movie”?
Yes. “This is my all-time favorite movie” is a natural and grammatically correct sentence.
5. What is the difference between “all time” and “all-time”?
All-time is usually hyphenated when it works as an adjective, as in all-time favorite or all-time record. All time without a hyphen can be used in other grammatical structures, such as “at all times.”
