Alright? or All Right?
on Jan 26, 2014, Updated Jan 21, 2022
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News flash! ALRIGHT is NOT NOW, and never has been, a proper word! Inspiration for this week’s 5 Minute Grammar Lesson came from my college students, but alright is a VERY common mistake a lot of people make. I especially see this mistake in social media – all over facebook, etc. Unfortunately, ALRIGHT is wrong!
Alright? or All Right? Why is ALRIGHT all wrong?
Think about it this way: would you consider writing ALWRONG? Most likely, no. And alright is not ok either. Honestly, English is dumb. ALTOGETHER and NONETHELESS are both standard English words, but ALRIGHT is not. It’s just a rule you have to remember – as with so many other weird words in the English, language, there’s no real rhyme or reason.
So do yourself a favor and separate ALL and RIGHT out into two, distinct words. Your English teacher will thank you! And you will be ALL RIGHT in my book. 😉
And that’s your 5 Minute Grammar Lesson. For more grammar lessons, read here.
Merriam -Webster does list it ‘alright’ as a word, just to add to the confusion. I can see the argument if you are comparing it to all wrong. I think it may be allowable in some situations, such as if a person is going through a difficult time and is asked how they are doing. They might respond, “I’m doing alright.” This would not mean they are doing all right, that everything is good and perfect.
Nonstandard words are sometimes in the dictionary! It doesn’t make them technically correct. Alright is like alot and ain’t. Common, but still incorrect and to be avoided in formal writing. You can read more here: http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/alright_all_right.htm and here: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/all-right-versus-alright.aspx
My top grammar annoyance is the confusion between ‘less” and “fewer”.
I’ve covered that one too: https://simplifylivelove.com/2011/03/less-or-fewer.html
Great stuff! I learn a lot from you. Can I ask one favor? Can you please remind people that the “T” in often is silent? Even famous newscasters get this one wrong. Thank you.
As a proofreader/editor, I’m excited to see grammar education! 😉 This is a great series, and I appreciate the work you’re doing to inform writers. And, just so you know, I’m visiting today from the Boost Your Blog comments challenge!
I’m so glad that I’m following the Boost Your Blog Challenge and stumbled across your website. I make a lot of common grammar errors and “alright” is one I’ve used many times. I had no idea it was improper. 🙁 Now I have to come back and read the rest of your grammar posts.
This one is a grey area, I think, at least as far as Microsoft is concerned. 😉 Spell checker doesn’t pick it up.
Alright, all right! I did not know this one. I am usually that girl that quietly worries that someone will notice my inability to “do grammar” properly. I am the same girl who will scribble out a word that I am not confident that I am spelling correctly.
I have the basics down, but lack in some critical areas. I am excited to have found your 5 minute grammar tips!
I always find mistakes after I hit publish. It’s especially mortifying BECAUSE of my grammar posts… 😉