Confusing Words: Alright and All Right (adverb and adjective)
Meaning: of a satisfactory or acceptable quality.
Alright vs All Right Clarification: Alright and all right have same function in a sentence. The difference is that ‘alright’ is a nonstandard term for ‘all right’.
Alright vs All Right – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
Do you remember the word ‘already’? Alright is same as already in appearance but there is a major difference between them. Actually, the word ‘already’ can be used formally because it is a proper word of English vocabulary. ‘Alright’, on the other hand, is a non-standard English word. This word is used in informal writings.
Alright = Informal (Incorrect form)
All right = Formal (Correct form)
Origin of Alright and All Right
After much research on the word ‘alright’, I came to know that this particular word, ‘alright’, was started using in 1893. The words like already and altogether of English vocabulary was frequently used by people. Thus, the informal form ‘alright’ came into being. The correct form was ‘all right’ which is now confused with the word ‘alright’.
Now, alright is used in every context making its image to be a formal word. Though, this nonstandard form is frequently used in dialogues but still it is considered incorrect for formal writing.
So, it is my advice to stop using this informal word in formal writings otherwise the critics will not leave you in passing unsatisfied comments.
Continue reading the definition and examples for more clearance.
The single-word ‘Alright’ is wrong to use in formal writings.
Beside the above discussion, the meaning of two-word phrase ‘all-right’ is acceptable or satisfactory. This phrase is used to show someone’s feeling about something. For instance, the dress was all right. It means that the dress was not so good but it was satisfactory or fine.
All right is used as an adjective or an adverb.
1. The traffic was blocked but don’t worry, she was all right there.
2. She calls them whenever she is travelling to assure them she is all right. Reference – (Oxford Dictionaries)
3. It is all right if you are thinking that I am wrong.
Got it?
I hope that from the above discussion, it has been clear that the one-word phrase ‘alright’ is incorrect to use in formal writings. Whereas, two-word phrase ‘all right’ is the correct form to choose for writings.
This is incorrect to say that it would be alright to say good bye or it is alright if you are thinking that I am wrong.
What Did You Learn?
There is no difference in meanings. Alright and all right have same function in a sentence. The difference is that ‘alright’ is a nonstandard term for ‘all right’. The meaning of all right is satisfactory or acceptable.