In The Mean Time Or In The Meantime | Fix The Mix Up

You’ve seen both spellings. This pair trips writers up because both forms exist, yet one shows up far more than the other.

Here’s the rule you can use in emails, essays, and blog posts: write in the meantime when you mean “during the wait” or “between now and then.” Save in the mean time for the rare moments when you want a more literal feel, or when you’re writing about “mean time” as “average time” in a technical sense.

Fast Picks By Context

What You Mean	Best Wording	Sample Sentence
You’re waiting for something to happen	in the meantime	The report will be ready Friday; in the meantime, draft the outline.
Two events with a gap between them	in the meantime	The oven heats in ten minutes; in the meantime, chop the onions.
“While that’s going on” in a story	in the meantime	In the meantime, the train rolled past empty fields.
A quick “until then” in a message	in the meantime	Send the files when you can. In the meantime, I’ll prep the slides.
A slightly formal, literal tone	in the mean time	The committee will vote next month; in the mean time, members may submit edits.
Technical writing about averages	mean time (no “in the”)	The mean time between failures was recorded during bench tests.
You want a safer synonym	meanwhile	Meanwhile, I’ll call the supplier and confirm the shipment.
You want to avoid repetition in a paragraph	during that time	During that time, the team reviewed the draft and flagged typos.

In The Meantime And In The Mean Time In Plain English

Both phrases point to a stretch of time between two points. The difference is the word meantime versus the two-word phrase mean time.

Meantime is the standard form in modern English. Many dictionaries list it as a noun and an adverb, and the fixed phrase in the meantime is the form most readers expect. If your goal is clean, natural writing, this is the version that fits every nontechnical sentence.

Mean time can still show up as two words, since mean can carry the sense of “average.” That’s why you’ll see mean time between failures in engineering notes, reliability reports, and lab write-ups. In that setting, it’s not a casual filler phrase. It’s a measurement idea.

So why do people write in the mean time as two words? Part of it is habit. Part of it is the pull of the word mean, which looks like it should modify time. In most everyday sentences, readers won’t gain anything from that literal reading, so the one-word form wins.

What Major Dictionaries Record

If you want a quick check from trusted references, check how mainstream dictionaries treat the word today. Merriam-Webster’s definition of “meantime” treats it as a standard entry, and Cambridge Dictionary’s meaning of “meantime” points readers to the familiar “until something expected happens” sense.

That lines up with what you’ve probably seen in edited writing: in the meantime shows up in news, books, and classroom materials. The two-word spelling pops up now and then, but it can look dated, stiff, or plain accidental.

When you’re unsure, write the sentence both ways. Pick the one that doesn’t pull attention. Most of the time, in the mean time or in the meantime looks cleanest as the one-word form.

In The Mean Time Or In The Meantime

Let’s settle the choice for typical writing. If you’re drafting an email, a school assignment, a help article, or a post for a general audience, pick in the meantime. It reads smooth, it won’t distract your reader, and it matches what most style-edited writing uses.

If you’re set on the two-word version, ask yourself one question: are you trying to point to an “average time” idea, or are you just filling the gap between events? If it’s the gap, choose the one-word form. If it’s the measurement sense, you may not need “in the” at all.

When “In The Meantime” Fits Best

Think of in the meantime as a bridge. It connects the “now” to the “next.” It works when you’re waiting, prepping, or doing a side task while something else plays out.

Common spots where it sounds natural

• Schedules: “The class starts at 2 p.m. In the meantime, review your notes.”
• Process steps: “The update will install after the restart. In the meantime, save your work.”
• Customer messages: “We’ve received your ticket. In the meantime, try resetting your password.”
• Storytelling: “In the meantime, the rain kept tapping the window.”

A small punctuation tip: you can place it at the start of a sentence, in the middle, or near the end. If it comes at the front as a scene-setter, a comma after it often reads well. If it sits later in the sentence, commas may not be needed.

When “In The Mean Time” Shows Up

The two-word form appears in older texts and in writing that aims for a formal tone. Some writers use it to make the phrase feel more literal, as if “mean” is modifying “time.” That nuance rarely pays off for a general reader, so it’s not the best default.

You’ll also see mean time in technical settings where “mean” carries its math sense. In that case, the phrase is closer to a label than to a conversational connector.

Two quick checks that prevent a mismatch

1. If “average” would fit, you may be in technical territory. “Mean time to repair” is a metric, not a filler phrase.
2. If “while you wait” would fit, choose in the meantime. That’s the everyday job of the phrase.

Punctuation And Placement That Read Clean

Most errors with these phrases aren’t about meaning. They’re about placement. A few small moves keep your sentence from feeling clunky.

Start of sentence

Use this when you want a quick shift of attention. “In the meantime, finish the first draft.” The comma helps the reader catch the pivot.

Middle of sentence

This is handy when you want one sentence, not two. “I sent the request and, in the meantime, updated the spreadsheet.” Commas set it off like a brief aside.

End of sentence

This works when the main action comes first. “I’ll send the contract Monday; you can review the terms in the meantime.” A semicolon can help if the sentence already has many commas.

Mean Time In Technical Writing

Here’s where the spacing matters most. In engineering, statistics, and reliability work, mean time often means an average duration. You might see mean time between failures or mean time to repair. In that setting, writing meantime would be wrong, since it changes the term.

If you write for a mixed audience, you can reduce confusion by pairing the metric with a short label on first use. “Mean time between failures (MTBF) was 2,000 hours.” After that, the acronym keeps the text light.

Common Mistakes And Clean Fixes

Even strong writers stumble on these because the ear hears both forms. The fixes are simple once you know what to scan for.

What You Wrote	Cleaner Option	Why It Reads Better
“I’ll call you later. In the mean time, rest.”	“I’ll call you later. In the meantime, rest.”	It matches modern usage for a waiting gap.
“In the meantime I finished the task.”	“In the meantime, I finished the task.”	The comma marks a front-loaded connector.
“Mean time between failures is rising; in the meantime is good.”	“Mean time between failures is rising; that’s good.”	A metric term doesn’t need the connector.
“In the meantime, meanwhile, I waited.”	“Meanwhile, I waited.”	One connector is enough.
“I’m waiting on the reply, in the meantime.”	“I’m waiting on the reply. In the meantime, I’ll start the draft.”	It becomes a bridge to a new action.
“In the mean time between tests, log results.”	“In the downtime between tests, log results.”	It avoids mixing casual and technical senses.
“We’ll meet at noon; in the meantime, read the whole paper twice.”	“We’ll meet at noon; in the meantime, read the paper once.”	Pairing it with a realistic side task keeps tone steady.

Sentence Patterns You Can Reuse

If you write often, it helps to keep a few templates in your back pocket. Swap in your own verbs and nouns, and the sentences stay clear.

Work and school

• The meeting is set for [time]; in the meantime, I’ll send the agenda.
• The grade posts on [day]; in the meantime, check the rubric and revise.
• The reply may take a day or two; in the meantime, I’ll draft a short plan.

Everyday life

• The water needs ten minutes; in the meantime, set the table.
• The ride arrives soon; in the meantime, grab your bag and lock up.
• The package ships tomorrow; in the meantime, clear a spot on the shelf.

Story and scene

• In the meantime, the lights flickered and the hallway fell silent.
• She read the note twice; in the meantime, the clock kept ticking.
• In the meantime, a dog barked somewhere down the block.

A Small Choice That Keeps Readers Moving

Readers track your point, not your spelling. When a phrase looks unfamiliar, it can tug their eyes off the idea. The one-word form meantime keeps the sentence smooth in everyday writing.

When you edit, search for “mean time”. If it sits in a waiting-gap sentence, swap in meantime. If it sits next to a metric like MTBF, keep two words.

A Short Self Edit Before You Hit Publish

Run this quick pass when you’re unsure. It takes a few seconds and catches nearly every slip.

1. Ask what the phrase means in your sentence: “during the wait” or “average time.”
2. If it means “during the wait,” use in the meantime and move on.
3. If it means “average time,” drop “in the” and write the metric name in plain form.
4. Read the sentence once out loud. If it feels like a speed bump, split it into two.
5. Scan for double connectors like “in the meantime” plus “meanwhile.” Keep one.

One last note: if you’re writing about the phrase itself, you may see both spellings in quotes from older sources. In your own voice, the one-word form keeps readers on track.

And yes, if you’ve been stuck on this choice, you can stop second-guessing. In most writing, in the mean time or in the meantime resolves to a single clean habit: use in the meantime.

Save this page, then come back any time you catch yourself typing the two-word version. After a few uses, the standard spelling will feel natural, and your sentences will flow without the tiny pause that trips readers.