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a while ago vs awhile ago

Both "a while ago" and "awhile ago" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "A while ago" is used to refer to a period of time in the past, while "awhile ago" is used to indicate that some time has passed since an action or event occurred.

Last updated: March 30, 2024

a while ago

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a period of time in the past.

This phrase is used to indicate that something happened or was true a certain amount of time in the past.

Examples:

I saw her a while ago.
He left a while ago.
We met for coffee a while ago.
She called me a while ago.
They finished the project a while ago.

Show examples from the web [+]

Most grammarians feel that awhile should only be used to modify a verb and a while should be used after prepositions or in phrases like a while ago or a ...
Jan 11, 2017 ... a while ago means some time ago. The period of time we're talking about can be a day, a week, a couple of months or, possibly, even a couple ...
French Translation of “a while ago” | The official Collins English-French Dictionary online. Over 100000 French translations of English words and phrases.
Also, a while ago. Some time in the past, as in I ran into Barbara a while back but didn't get her new address, or John wrote me a while ago about his new ...

Alternatives:

some time ago
a few moments ago
a little while back
a bit earlier
a short time ago

awhile ago

This phrase is correct but less common in English. It is used to indicate that some time has passed since an action or event occurred.

This phrase is used to indicate that some time has passed since an action or event occurred.

Examples:

She left awhile ago.
He called awhile ago.
They finished the project awhile ago.
I saw her awhile ago.
We met for coffee awhile ago.

Show examples from the web [+]

There was an incident at a motel awhile ago.
No, he went off with Chet awhile ago.
Awhile ago, you said that Hank would let me down.
LOOK, AWHILE AGO YOU ASKED ME TO HELP YOU FIND SOME DIRECTION IN YOUR LIFE. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THAT.
Actually, that was quite awhile ago.
You made me laugh awhile ago.
You know, awhile ago, I would've been glad to hear that Death had been taken.
I was hurt pretty bad awhile ago, And lost touch with my avatar spirit.
I met him awhile ago.
It was awhile ago.
No... I won a bet awhile ago, the stable-owner owed me.
When Geun Chan ran away from home awhile ago, he stayed at the Seoul subway station.
So, you want to go look for frogs with me like you said you would awhile ago and haven't done it yet?
Awhile ago, and we told them you were gone, because you were discharged.

Alternatives:

some time ago
a little while back
a bit earlier
a short time ago
a while back

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