Confusing Words: Already (adverb) and All Ready (phrase)
Meaning:
Already (before or by now or the time in question.)
All Ready (“entirely ready” or “prepared”)
Already vs All Ready Clarification: “Already’ and ‘all ready’ have differences in terms of meanings and usage.
Already vs All Ready – What is the Difference, Definition & Meanings?
Is it ‘already’ or ‘all ready’? You might be thinking that why ‘all ready’ is written separately? The answer is very simple. Actually, ‘all ready’ are two words which are used as a phrase. You will come to know their meanings and functions later.
Moreover, pronunciation of both of these word and phrase is equally important. When you loudly speak up ‘already’ and ‘all ready’, their pronunciation will sound similar. You can point them as homophones because their pronunciation is same but meanings are different.
Definition and meanings of Already and All Ready
Already = ‘Adverb’
All Ready = ‘Two-word Phrase’
Already
You often use already. This word is used as an adverb. It means that it can be used to modify the meaning of adjectives, verbs or other adverbs in sentences. This particular word is used to describe the happening of something before the present time or the specified time.
1. I have already asked my mother for the party.
2. Her gorgeous antique-inspired hair comb is already available for purchase at Hot Topic. Reference – (grammarist.com)
3. The party is going awesome, but we are already tired.
All Ready
Unlike ‘already’, ‘all ready’ is said to be a two-word phrase. This phrase is used to describe that the preparation is done in any context.
‘All ready’ can be synonymous to ‘completely ready’.
For instance, if you are a group of five members and you all are getting yourselves ready to go for a party. So, after sometime, one member wants to ask others whether they are ready to go or not?
In this case, that member will ask ‘all ready to go?’ It means that one of the members might be ready to go and wants other members to quickly set themselves.
Continue reading the following examples to clear the confusion between the word ‘already’ and the phrase ‘all ready’.
1. Are we all ready to go for a party?
2. I was not all ready to answer your question.
3. I am all ready to shop online this holiday season, but I like to save a little when I can. Reference – (grammarist.com)
Check Out: The Difference Between Alright and All Right.
Got the Difference between Already and All ready?
Hence from the above discussion, it is clear that ‘already’ and ‘all ready’ are not interchangeable. Both are used in different contexts. ‘Already’ is used as an adverb whereas ‘all ready’ is not a word. All ready is, in fact, a phrase.
Remember that ‘All’ means totally or completely. In the same way, you can remember the phrase ‘all ready’ that means ‘completely ready’. Never forget this point as it will help you to differentiate between already and all ready.
Here comes a small quiz to test you. Fill in the blank with suitable word or phrase i.e. already or all ready.
Quiz:
1. I am all ready/already helpless.
2. All ready/Already to rock n roll.
3. You are already/all ready smiling.
4. I was not already/all ready for this behavior.
*(Answers at the end)
What Did You Learn?
“Already’ and ‘all ready’ have differences in terms of meanings and usage. Already is said to be an adverb meaning ‘the happening of something before the present time’. It can be used to confirm something. ‘All ready’, on the other hand, is a phrase meaning ‘completely ready’.
Answers: 1.Already 2.All ready 3.Already 4.All ready