Confounding Compounds - The Grammar-Us Blog - Grammar-Us

Sometimes, the spoken word and the written word sound alike, but seeing the words actually in writing can be a dead giveaway as to whether the writer is a good grammarian.  And, since the written word is more permanent, mistakes can haunt you for a long, long time!  Compound words can be special pitfalls when they are written.  Here are a few that are often misused:

Everyday/Every Day:  When written as one word, “everyday” is an adverb describing something as regular and repetitive.  For example: “My everyday routine includes going to work.”  If written as two words, however, “every day” is a time period.   For example: “I do the laundry every day.”



Everyone/Every One: Here’s another “every” quandary!  When written as one word, you are referring to an entire group.  For example: “Everyone had a great time at the party.”  When split into two words, however, “every one” describes individuals. For example, “Every one of the flowers has wilted.”  

Already/All Ready: When written as one word, “already” describes something that has happened beforehand.  For example: “The report has already been submitted.”  But, if written as two words, “all ready” describes something that has been completely prepared.  For example: “Jane is all ready to go to the store.”

Alright/All Right: There is some controversy about whether or not “alright” is actually a word. To be absolutely correct in your writing, I recommend always using the two word version.    However, if you do choose to use the one-word version, please be sure to spell it correctly, with only one “l”!









Cannot/Can Not:  Some grammarians do not differentiate between the one-word and two-word versions, stating that either is correct. However, the majority still agrees that “cannot” is preferred when you are writing about something that is prohibited or impossible.  For example: “You cannot possibly expect me to believe that!”  “Can not” (as two words) should not be used in formal writing, unless you are describing a suggested negative action.  For example, “If you feel sick, you can not go into work today.”  In this example, you are not stating that it is prohibited or impossible for the person to go to work, but you are offering an option of not going, instead.

BONUS TIP:

There is no such word as “noone”!  It is always two words (no one). “None” is a contraction of “not one.” And it is singular! For example: “None of the students is signing up for English next fall.”