Yesterday a dear friend who knows I am a language nut gave me a tiny book published in 1920 called Mend Your Speech. A rather severe title, but the book contains 48 pages of advice for both speech and writing, much of it still apt today.
On page 15 is advice about “all right” and “already.” Here’s the deal:
“All right” is the only way to write those words. No such word as “alright” exists.
“Already” means before now: “We have already seen that movie.” “All ready” means to be prepared: “I have packed and am all ready to leave for Antarctica.”
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Filed under All things having to do with the English language
Tagged as all ready, All right, already, alright, business writing, copy editing, editing, English language, grammar, Mend Your Speech, punctuation, style, usage