Awhile vs. a while

What does awhile mean?

Awhile is an adverb which means for a short time.

For example:

·      I need to rest my feet for awhile.

What does a while mean?

A while is a phrase that means a period of time. A while follows the prepositions for or in.

For example:

·      She’s been sleeping for a while.

What’s the difference between awhile and a while?

Awhile means for a short time. A while refers to a period of time and follows the prepositions for or in.

For example:

·      I want to rest my feet for awhile but I have so much to prepare before I go to work in a while.