"a while" vs "awhile"

Is there a difference between "awhile" and "a while"? If there is, what is it? I've been wondering this for awhile, but now I actually need the answer.

Solution 1:

Awhile is an adverb:

Bear with me awhile.

A while is the use of the noun "while":

We've been here for a while.

So in your example you can use either:

I've been wondering this awhile.

Or:

I been wondering for a while.

Solution 2:

While the meanings are similar, they are different parts of speech and are not interchangeable. From Grammar Girl (emphasis mine):

...awhile and a while both describe a vague length of time, but you use the one-word version when you need an adverb and the two-word version when you need a noun.

To tell the difference, you can test your sentence with other nouns and adverbs. If you can replace a while with another article and noun such as an hour or a year, you know you want the two-word version. If you can replace awhile with another adverb such as quietly, longer, or briefly, you know you want the one-word version.

Wrong:

It's been awhile since I've heard that song.

It's been longer since I've heard that song.

Go play a while.

Go play an hour.

Right:

It's been a while since I've heard that song.

It's been a year since I've heard that song.

Go play awhile.

Go play quietly.

Go play for a while.

Go play for an hour.