Is It “Alright” or “All Right”?

What’s the Difference Between “Alright” and “All Right”?

We’re just going to come out and say it: There is no consensus when it comes to alright and all right. While some staunchly oppose alright, others believe it is the evolved version of all right (comparable to already and always).

Below, we’re going to cover the different definitions and functions of these two words. We’re also going to show you how using one over the other can cause ambiguity in a sentence.

What Does “Alright” Mean?

Now, let’s get to the different definitions and functions of these two words.

Alright can function as an adjective, adverb, or affirmative statement.

When used as an adjective or adverb, alright means “in an acceptable manner” “good enough.”

I reviewed his homework and saw that his answers were alright.
(Adjective)

My dancing coach said I performed alright.
(Adverb)

When used as an affirmative statement, alright is used to agree and is synonymous with “okay.”

She asked if I could watch her cat and I said, “alright.”
(Affirmative statement)

It’s also often used to check if someone understands what you’re saying.

We have to leave in five minutes, alright?

What Does “All Right” Mean?

All right can also function as an adjective, adverb, and affirmative statement.

Similarly, when all right is used as an adjective or adverb, it means “satisfactory” or “agreeable.”

Stephanie’s teacher told us that her answers on the quiz were all right.
(Adjective)

I was playing all right until someone’s phone started ringing.
(Adverb)

As an adverb, it can also be used to mean “beyond doubt.”

Oh, she’s going to win first place all right.
(Adverb)

Lastly, as an affirmative statement, all right is also used to agree.

All right, don’t worry. I’ll slow down.
(Affirmative statement)

Take a look at alright and all right being used as adjectives and adverbs. This is where many people claim the issue lies. They argue that all right means “correct,” whereas alright means “adequate,” and therefore they cannot be interchanged. However, according to Merriam-Webster, all right can mean both “correct” and “adequate.” In other words, all right can do anything alright can.

Alright, Which Is It?

There may come the time when we write about how all right has evolved to alright. However, that day hasn’t come yet. As it is, all right is the always acceptable variation of this word, whereas the use of alright may come with some backlash.

That being said, if you’re writing in a formal setting, it’s best to use all right. If you’re writing in a casual or more colloquial way, and the use of alright doesn’t bother you (or your audience), then go ahead and use it.

While the use of all right vs. alright is up in the air still, there are other words that cannot be interchanged (e.g., illicit vs. elicit). These word pairs can be confusing, so it’s a good idea to use LanguageTool as your writing assistant. This multilingual text editor ensures you always use the correct word and also checks for other common grammar mistakes. Try it out today.