Some What vs. Somewhat
“Somewhat” is the standard one-word adverb meaning “to some degree.” Writing “some what” does not represent that adverb; two separate words are possible only when “some” and “what” independently belong to a different grammatical construction.
Use the one-word adverb “somewhat” when you mean “to some degree.” Do not split that standard adverb into “some what.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Intended meaning / structure | Form | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| the degree adverb meaning “to some degree” | somewhat | Use the established one-word adverb. |
| “some” and “what” have separate grammatical jobs in a different construction | some + what | Keep them separate only because they are genuinely separate words, not as a spelling of the adverb. |
| you can replace the expression with “to some degree” | somewhat | The replacement test points to the closed adverb. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does the expression mean “to some degree”?
If yes: Write “somewhat” as one word.
If no: Parse “some” and “what” separately; do not assume the adjacent words form the degree adverb.
Caveat: The rule is about the degree adverb. Separate words can occur in other grammatical structures, so the page does not ban every sequence containing “some” and “what.”
Examples
The room was somewhat colder than expected.
“Somewhat” is the one-word degree adverb meaning “to some degree.”
Her reply was somewhat unclear.
The word modifies “unclear” by degree, so the closed adverb is appropriate.
If you mean “to some degree,” write somewhat as one word.
The substitution test distinguishes the degree adverb from unrelated uses of the separate words.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “somewhat” as the degree adverb meaning “to some degree.”
Fast Test
If the phrase can be replaced by “to some degree,” write “somewhat” as one word.
Usage Boundary
Do not treat every adjacent occurrence of “some” and “what” as an error; they can be separate words when they perform separate grammatical roles, but that is not the adverb “somewhat.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- somewhat — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for somewhat as the single-word adverb meaning to some degree.