What Does "meanwhile" Mean?
- Grammatical function: "Meanwhile" is a conjunctive adverb (also known as a sentence connector or transition word). It primarily expresses a temporal relationship of simultaneity, indicating that two events are happening at the same time. Secondarily, it is frequently used to signal contrast or a shift in focus between two different subjects or locations.
- Typical sentence position: It most commonly appears in the initial position of a sentence to transition from a previous idea. However, it is also highly mobile and can appear in the medial (interrupter) position or, less frequently, the final position.
- Register: It is widely used across neutral and formal registers, including journalism, academic writing, and professional correspondence. It is less common in very informal speech, where "at the same time" or "in the meantime" might be preferred.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: As a conjunctive adverb, "meanwhile" typically introduces a new independent clause. It is often preceded by a period or a semicolon and followed by a comma when placed at the start of a sentence.
- Punctuation rules: When starting a sentence, follow "meanwhile" with a comma. If used in the middle of a clause to provide a parenthetical shift, it should be set off by commas on both sides (e.g., "The first group, meanwhile, waited outside.").
- Grammatical flexibility: It is highly flexible; it can start a sentence, follow a semicolon, or be embedded within the predicate. However, it cannot be negated directly (one does not say "not meanwhile").
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: It sounds unnatural to use "meanwhile" to connect two clauses within the same sentence without proper punctuation (like a semicolon), as this creates a run-on sentence. It is also incorrect to use it as a direct synonym for "while" to introduce a dependent clause.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from meanwhile on Ludwig.guru.
"Meanwhile, make the sauce." — theguardian.com
"Meanwhile, here in the west, unchallenged by international courts, Norway, Iceland and Greenland continue whaling." — theguardian.com
"YouTube, meanwhile, thinks that is only right to count channel video views for videos that are still actually present on the channels - which means that whenever YouTube got round to reviewing the music majors' channels on its site, a massive cut was always going to be in order." — theguardian.com
"The Turkish government, meanwhile, has enraged Greeks by pledging to step up exports to Russia to fill the gap." — theguardian.com
"Meanwhile, Amazon's latest "pilot season" rolled out this Thursday, allowing viewers to watch and rate potential new shows, with the most popular being turned into full series." — theguardian.com
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/meanwhile
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
Depending on the level of formality or the specific situation, you might want to vary your language.
| Phrase |
Context |
| in the meantime |
Very similar; often used to refer to the interval between two specific events. |
| simultaneously |
More formal; emphasizes that two actions are occurring at the exact same moment. |
| at the same time |
Neutral and versatile; used for both temporal overlap and to introduce a contrasting point. |
| on the other hand |
Specifically highlights contrast or a different perspective rather than time. |
| concurrently |
Highly formal or technical; used in legal, academic, or administrative contexts. |
Common Mistakes
- The Comma Splice: A frequent error is using "meanwhile" to join two independent clauses with only a comma (e.g., "I cooked dinner, meanwhile he set the table."). You must use a period or a semicolon instead.
- Subordination Confusion: Learners often use it as a subordinating conjunction like 'while' to join two clauses in a single sentence, rather than using it as a transition between independent sentences.
- Overuse in Narrative: Using "meanwhile" too frequently in storytelling can make the prose feel disjointed or repetitive; vary your transitions to maintain flow.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| meanwhile |
Temporal/Contrastive Transition |
Neutral to Formal |
Initial or Medial |
FAQs
Where can meanwhile be placed within a sentence
The word meanwhile can appear in the sentence-initial position followed by a comma to introduce a new thought. It can also be placed in the mid-clause position, usually between the subject and the verb, where it acts as an interrupter set off by commas.
How does meanwhile differ from in the meantime
While both terms refer to overlapping time, meanwhile is more commonly used to show a shift to a different scene or person in a narrative. In the meantime is typically used to describe an action filling the gap between two specific events in a single sequence.
Is it correct to use meanwhile to join two clauses directly
No, you should not use meanwhile as a subordinating conjunction like while to join two clauses in a single sentence. Because it is a conjunctive adverb, it requires a semicolon or a full stop to separate the independent ideas it connects.