student asking question

What is the difference between "often" and "oftentimes"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Actually, "often" is the shortened version of "oftentimes," They both are adverbs that are synonyms for the word "frequently." They have the same meaning, but oftentimes feels a bit more formal. Often is more commonly used (especially when speaking) due to its shortness. Ex: My mother often goes for a walk in the evening. Ex: Oftentimes startups offer extra perks like free lunches and happy hour.

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