Discover my Top 8 Awkward Words that are spelt with one word and with two. Let me explain…
Are you confused whether to use ALREADY or ALL READY?
Do you question whether to write ALTOGETHER or ALL TOGETHER?
Is it ALLSORTS or ALL SORTS?
What about MAYBE or MAY BE?
It’s easy to get confused about the spelling of words that look very similar. If you get confused, don’t worry!
You’re not the only one…many people think that they can choose whether to use two words or one word to mean the same thing. Other people realise there might be a difference between the spellings and meanings but aren’t sure what it is.
Here are my Top 8 Awkward Words that are easy to misspell. But with a sprinkling of help from me, you’ll learn the differences.
1. ALREADY or ALL READY
ALL READY means that something is
completely ready…
fully prepared…
Examples would be...
We’re ALL READY to start the race.
Are we ALL READY to leave now?
Once I get the car keys, I’ll be ALL READY to leave.
Whereas ALREADY is an adverb which means something has happened before a specific time. You would use this spelling to mean the same as
so soon…
previously …
done earlier…
Examples would be:
It’s ALREADY done.
We’re ALREADY there.
Here’s a trick to help you know which spelling to use…when you write a sentence, replace the spelling with FULLY PREPARED (which is the meaning for ALL READY) and if the meaning is correct, then you’ll know which spelling to use.
Eg. We’re ALREADY there. or We’re FULLY PREPARED there.
Since this isn’t the meaning I wanted, then I know I need to use ALREADY not ALL READY.
2. ALTOGETHER or ALL TOGETHER
ALL TOGETHER means
with each other
doing something together
being together with everyone else
Examples would be:
Let’s dance ALL TOGETHER.
Mix the ingredients ALL TOGETHER in the pan.
Whereas ALTOGETHER is an adverb which means
completely
in total
entirely
Examples would be:
The meal came to £40 ALTOGETHER.
She is ALTOGETHER different to the rest of us.
ALTOGETHER, we have saved over £200.
3. ALLSORTS and ALL SORTS
ALL SORTS means
lots of different things or people.
all kinds/types of things.
a mixture of different things.
Examples would be:
There are ALL SORTS of issues with the plan.
Would you like ALL SORTS of chocolates included in the gift box?
Whereas ALLSORTS is used to describe assorted candies that usually have ingredients such as liquorice, aniseed, coconut, and sugar.
An example would be:
I love liquorice ALLSORTS.
4. MAYBE and MAY BE
MAYBE means
possibly
perhaps
Examples would be:
MAYBE my bike has been fixed in time.
MAYBE she is tired.
Whereas MAY BE means
might be
Examples would be:
I MAY BE late for work today.
She MAY BE happy with her exam result.
Here’s a trick to help you know which spelling to use … when you write a sentence, replace the spelling with MIGHT BE (which is the meaning for MAY BE) and if the meaning is correct, then you’ll know which spelling to use.
Eg. We MAY BE late for the show. or We MIGHT BE late for the show.
Since this is the meaning I wanted, then I know I need to use MAY BE.
5. INTO or IN TO
INTO means
to the inside of…
toward something/in the direction of…
results of a change/transformation
a point in time or space
involvement
Examples would be:
The car turned into the cul-de-sac.
We climbed into the boat.
We got into trouble.
The boy jumped into the puddle.
IN TO
The word IN is partnered with a verb to make a verb phrase such as
turn in
push in
give in
came in
dive in
Examples would be:
I turned my essay IN TO the teacher.
I came IN TO keep warm during the storm.
I dived IN TO the pool to collect the rubber ring.
I gave IN TO my desire for more chocolate.
6. SOMETIME and SOME TIME
SOMETIME is an adverb and refers to something being done or achieved at some point.
Examples would be:
She will finish the book SOMETIME.
They might travel to Cambodia SOMETIME.
SOMETIME later they returned to the house.
Whereas SOME TIME refers to an amount of time.
Examples would be:
SOME TIME had passed since the family had moved out.
Let’s meet SOME TIME next week.
7. ANYMORE and ANY MORE
When writing in British English, ANYMORE is considered to be incorrect and ANY MORE is used to mean
any longer…
nowadays…
from now on…
a quantity…
Examples would be:
They don’t work here ANY MORE.
I don’t have ANY MORE money.
Whereas in US English, ANYMORE as one word is used to mean any longer. Eg. Do you have a dog ANYMORE?
They use ANY MORE to mean a quantity eg. Do you have ANY MORE sweets left?
This makes it a lot easier for anyone using this word in the UK since there’s only one spelling!
8. ALL RIGHT and ALRIGHT
ALL RIGHT can be written as one word, ALRIGHT, but it’s not as common and ALL RIGHT is more acceptable.
ALL RIGHT is an adjective and adverb and means ok or satisfactory.
Examples would be:
I’m feeling ALL RIGHT.
The meal was ALL RIGHT.
Is everything ALL RIGHT?
We can also use it in conversational, informal texts as a marker. Eg. ALL RIGHT, is everyone ready to go?
These were my TOP 8 AWKWARD WORDS.
Reach out today for a professional proofreader to help you with those tricky spellings.
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