Sometime means at an unspecified point in time, referring to one occasion: "Let's meet sometime next week." Sometimes means occasionally, on some occasions but not others: "He sometimes works from home." A third form, some time as two words, means a quantity of time: "This will take some time."
The core difference
Sometimes is about frequency — how often something happens. Sometime is about a point on the calendar you haven't pinned down. The two are not interchangeable, and the missing s changes the meaning entirely: "I sometimes visit my grandmother" (now and then) is a different statement from "I'll visit my grandmother sometime" (one day, unspecified).
How to use each
- Sometimes (adverb of frequency) — "Sometimes the lift breaks down." "She's sometimes late, but never rude."
- Sometime (adverb, unspecified point) — "The results will arrive sometime in March." "Drop round sometime."
- Some time (noun phrase, duration) — "We waited some time before anyone answered." "Give it some time."
The test to run on your sentence
Substitute a plain synonym:
- If occasionally fits, write sometimes. "Occasionally the lift breaks down" works.
- If at some point fits, write sometime. "At some point in March" works.
- If a while fits, write some time as two words. "We waited a while" works.
A second check for the two-word form: you can put a word in front of time — "some considerable time", "some little time". If that reads naturally, it is two words.
The adjective nobody expects
Sometime also works as an adjective meaning former: "Marcus Bell, sometime chair of the trustees." This is formal and slightly old-fashioned, most often seen in obituaries, programme notes and academic biographies. It is not wrong, but it can confuse readers who only know the other sense, so former is usually the clearer choice.
The mistake people actually make
The frequent error is writing sometime where some time is needed, especially after prepositions: "We haven't spoken for sometime" should be "for some time". After for, in or after, you almost always need the two-word noun phrase, because a preposition wants a noun rather than an adverb.
The other slip goes the opposite way — "Sometimes next week I'll call" — which reads as though next week will happen repeatedly. That sentence needs sometime.
One small point of style: sometime soon is idiomatic and fine in ordinary writing, though in formal prose shortly or in the near future is tidier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it "for sometime" or "for some time"?
"For some time", two words. After a preposition like for, in or after, you need the noun phrase meaning a period of time. "We hadn't spoken for some time" is correct.
Should I write "see you sometime" or "sometimes"?
Sometime. You mean at an unspecified future point, on one occasion. "See you sometimes" would oddly suggest you expect to see them repeatedly but irregularly.
Can sometime mean former?
Yes, as an adjective before a role: "a sometime lecturer at Leeds". It is formal and dated, so former is usually clearer for general readers.