All-Time Favorite vs. All Times Favorite: What’s the Difference?

You are in the middle of writing a caption, a blog post, or maybe a simple text message. You want to call something your top pick of all time. Then it hits you: is it “all-time favorite” or “all times favorite”?This is one of the most searched grammar questions online. It looks like a small detail, but getting it wrong makes your writing look sloppy. 

Getting it right shows you know your stuff.The short answer: “all-time favorite” is correct. “All times favorite” is not proper English.But there is more to it than that. This guide breaks down the full picture: the grammar rule behind it, what the phrase means, how to use it in different settings, the informal shortcuts people use online, and what American and British English each do with it.

Why is “All-Time Favorite” the Correct Usage?

The reason comes down to one foundational grammar rule: compound adjectives.

When two or more words join together to describe a noun, they form a compound adjective. In that case, you connect them with a hyphen. “All-time” is a compound adjective. It modifies the noun that follows it, such as “favorite,” “record,” or “high.”

The Rule in Simple Terms

Without the hyphen, the words “all” and “time” sit next to each other with no grammatical connection. The meaning becomes blurry. With the hyphen, they fuse into a single descriptor that clearly modifies the noun.

Phrase	Correct?	Reason
all-time favorite	Yes	Compound adjective with hyphen
all time favorite	No	Missing hyphen, grammatically loose
all times favorite	No	Plural “times” is incorrect here
all-times favorite	No	Still incorrect, plural form does not apply

Why “Times” Is Always Wrong

“All times” uses the plural form of “time.” In this phrase, that is grammatically incorrect. The expression refers to the span of all time as a single, continuous concept, not to individual moments or instances. “All time” in the singular is the only correct form. Think of it like saying “the record of all time” versus “the record of all times.” The first sounds natural. The second sounds off.

All-Time Favorite Meaning

When you call something your all-time favorite, you mean it holds the top spot across every period of your life. It is not just what you love right now. It is what you have consistently loved more than anything else, no matter when or where.

The phrase signals an enduring, timeless preference. It is your number one pick above everything that came before it and everything that has come since.

What Makes It “All-Time”

A regular favorite can change week to week. Your all-time favorite is permanent. It has stood the test of time. That is the distinction the phrase carries.

For example:

• Your favorite song this month might be something new on the charts.
• Your all-time favorite song is the one that has moved you more than any other, through every phase of your life.

The phrase applies to almost anything: movies, books, songs, foods, places, athletes, TV shows, memories, and more.

Using “All-Time Favorite” in Different Situations

The phrase fits naturally into many everyday contexts. Here are the most common ones.

Movies and TV

Calling a film your all-time favorite signals it has had a lasting impact on you, not just a good opening weekend.

• “The Shawshank Redemption is my all-time favorite movie.”
• “Friends remains an all-time favorite TV show for millions of viewers.”

Music

When a song earns all-time status, it means it has stayed with you no matter how much your taste has changed.

• “Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen is his all-time favorite song.”
• “She has an all-time favorite playlist that she has not changed in ten years.”

Food

Food preferences shift over time, but an all-time favorite is one you keep coming back to no matter what.

• “Pizza is their all-time favorite food.”
• “That bakery’s chocolate lava cake is an all-time favorite among regulars.”

Sports and Athletes

Fans often describe legendary players using this phrase because it implies historical greatness.

• “Muhammad Ali is widely considered an all-time favorite in boxing history.”
• “That goal is one of her all-time favorite sports moments.”

Everyday Life

The phrase also works for smaller, personal things.

• “Thanksgiving is her all-time favorite holiday.”
• “Sunday mornings are his all-time favorite part of the week.”

All-Time Fave Meaning

Online, on social media, and in casual texting, people often shorten the phrase. “Fave” and “fav” are both informal abbreviations for “favorite.” They are widely used and widely understood.

The phrase “all-time fave” means exactly the same thing as “all-time favorite.” It just carries a lighter, more casual tone.

Where “Fave” Comes From

The shortening “fave” has been around since at least 1938, when it appeared in the Dictionary of American Slang. By the 1940s, it was showing up in music magazines. In the 2000s, social media pushed it into mainstream digital communication. Today, both Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com recognize “fave” as a valid informal word.

Fave vs. Fav

Both work the same way. The choice between them is purely personal preference. “Fav” tends to appear more on Twitter and Instagram. “Fave” shows up more in casual written content and fan communities.

When to Use “All-Time Fave”

Context	Use This
Social media captions	all-time fave
Text messages to friends	all-time fave / all-time fav
Blog posts (casual tone)	all-time fave
Formal articles or essays	all-time favorite
Professional emails	all-time favorite
Academic writing	all-time favorite

The rule is simple: if the setting is informal, “fave” fits. If the setting is professional or formal, stick with the full word.

American vs. British English: Usage of All-Time Favorite

There is one spelling difference to know about between American and British English.

In American English, the word is spelled: favorite

In British English, the word is spelled: favourite

So the phrase becomes:

• American: all-time favorite
• British: all-time favourite

This is part of a broader spelling pattern. British English kept the “our” ending from older French-influenced spellings. Think of “colour,” “honour,” and “favourite.” American English simplified these in the 18th and 19th centuries, mainly through the language reforms of Noah Webster. That is where “color,” “honor,” and “favorite” come from.

The One Rule That Never Changes

Regardless of which English variety you use, the hyphen in “all-time” is never optional. Whether you write “all-time favorite” or “all-time favourite,” the hyphen stays. This rule crosses the Atlantic without exception.

Quick Comparison

Feature	American English	British English
Spelling	all-time favorite	all-time favourite
Hyphen required	Yes	Yes
Plural “times” correct	No	No
Informal shortening	all-time fav / fave	all-time fav / fave

All-Time Favorite or All-Times Favorite: Grammar

Let’s put the grammar rules all in one place.

Rule 1: Use the Singular “Time,” Not the Plural “Times”

“All time” refers to the full span of time as a concept. It does not count individual time periods. The plural “times” does not belong here.

Correct: all-time favorite Incorrect: all-times favorite

Rule 2: Always Use a Hyphen

“All” and “time” must be hyphenated when they appear before a noun as a compound adjective. Without the hyphen, the phrase lacks grammatical structure.

Correct: all-time favorite Incorrect: all time favorite

Rule 3: “Favorite” Can Be a Noun or Adjective in This Phrase

“All-time favorite” works in two ways:

• As an adjective phrase: “It is my all-time favorite book.” (Here, “all-time favorite” describes the noun “book.”)
• As a noun phrase: “That song is my all-time favorite.” (Here, “favorite” is the noun.)

Both uses are grammatically correct.

All-Time Favorite or All-Times Favorite: Examples

Here are clear side-by-side examples so you can see the difference in practice.

Correct Usage

• “The Godfather is her all-time favorite film.”
• “To Kill a Mockingbird holds the spot as his all-time favorite book.”
• “Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday because of the family time.”
• “That restaurant’s tiramisu is an all-time favorite among regulars.”
• “LeBron James is considered an all-time favorite in basketball history.”

Incorrect Usage

• “The Godfather is her all times favorite film.” (Wrong: plural “times.”)
• “That is his all time favorite book.” (Wrong: missing hyphen.)
• “Thanksgiving is my all-times favorite holiday.” (Wrong: plural “times” and still wrong.)
• “Michael Jordan is my all time favorite athlete.” (Wrong: missing hyphen.)

How to Fix the Mistakes

Every error follows the same two patterns: either the hyphen is missing, or “times” is used instead of “time.” Fix both, and the phrase is correct every time.

Alternative Ways to Say “All-Time Favorite”

Repeating the same phrase in a piece of writing gets old fast. Here are natural alternatives that carry the same meaning.

Formal Alternatives

• Number one pick — Clean and direct. Works well in rankings and lists.
• Perennial favorite — Suggests something has been a favorite year after year.
• Timeless favorite — Implies the preference has never gone out of style.
• Enduring favorite — Highlights that the love for something has lasted over time.
• Unequivocal favorite — Signals there is no doubt about the choice.
• Go-to choice — Suggests reliability and consistent preference.
• Top of the list — Casual but clear. Works in most writing contexts.
• Evergreen favorite — Borrowed from content marketing, but works well in lifestyle writing.
• Classic choice — Good for food, fashion, or entertainment contexts.

Casual and Informal Alternatives

• All-time fave — Same meaning, lighter tone.
• Absolute favorite — Adds emphasis without changing the core meaning.
• Ultimate favorite — Strong and emphatic. Works well in superlative contexts.
• Top pick — Short and punchy. Great for social media or casual writing.

Using variety keeps your writing fresh. When you have already used “all-time favorite” once in a piece, swap in one of these alternatives to keep things moving.

Final Thoughts

The difference between “all-time favorite” and “all times favorite” is not a small technicality. It is the difference between correct and incorrect English.

Here is everything you need to remember:

• Use “all-time favorite” with a hyphen. Always.
• Never use “all times favorite.” The plural “times” is wrong in this phrase.
• “All time favorite” without the hyphen is also incorrect.
• In British English, the spelling changes to “all-time favourite,” but the hyphen stays.
• In casual settings, “all-time fave” or “all-time fav” are perfectly acceptable.
• When you want variety, try “perennial favorite,” “number one pick,” or “go-to choice.”

Good grammar is not about being perfect for its own sake. It is about being clear. When your writing is clear, people trust it. And that trust is worth the extra second it takes to get the hyphen right.

Next time you reach for this phrase, you will know exactly what to write.