Alright and all right both mean “okay.” However, alright is the incorrect spelling and nonstandard form of all right, while all right is correct and standard. Most instructors, editors, and critics regard alright as informal, wrong, and unacceptable. Hence, it’s best to use all right (one word) at all times.
Although all right is correct, many still use alright. Moreover, alright is less frequent than all right but remains common, especially in informal writing. Nevertheless, use all right instead of alright. Don’t be confused even if some people use alright; it’s grammatically incorrect.
When to Use Alright
Avoid using alright and always use all right. Alright is an unacceptable spelling. Reliable dictionaries like Longman English say it’s the nonstandard form. Furthermore, it’s widely regarded as incorrect and not even a word, so it’s best to avoid it in your writing, particularly in formal writing. Avoid writer’s block by using grammar tools, all right?
Alright as an Adverb
Alright should be all right as an adverb to mean “satisfactorily.”
Examples:
The following sample sentences show how alright as an adverb is incorrectly used:
Elena was worried about her performance, but she did alright. (incorrect)
I wasn’t satisfied with his acting. Nevertheless, he did alright. (incorrect)
‘Let’s go!’ ‘Alright, give me five minutes!’ (incorrect)
In the previous sentences, alright should be all right:
Elena was worried about her performance, but she did all right. (correct)
I wasn’t satisfied with his acting. Nevertheless, he did all right. (correct)
‘Let’s go!’ ‘All right, give me five minutes!’ (correct)
Alright as an Adjective
Alright should be all right as an adjective to mean “okay.” It’s used after verbs like be, feel, seem or look, but not before a noun.
Examples:
The following sample sentences show how alright as an adjective is wrongly used:
‘How are you feeling?’ ‘I’m alright, thanks. (incorrect)
‘Is it alright if I leave tomorrow?’ ‘Sure.’ (incorrect)
You’re pale. You don’t look alright. (incorrect)
In the previous sentences, alright should be all right:
‘How are you feeling?’ ‘I’m all right, thanks. (correct)
‘Is it all right if I leave tomorrow?’ ‘Sure.’ (correct)
You’re pale. You don’t look all right. (correct)
When to Use All Right
Always use all right and avoid using alright. All right is the correct spelling and standard form. As mentioned, don’t be confused despite some use alright. Additionally, all right functions as an adverb, adjective, and interjection to mean “satisfactorily.”
All Right as an Adverb
‘Trust me.’ ‘All right, I believe you.’
I’m doing all right.
You’re amazing. You did all right.
All Right as an Adjective
This time, it feels all right.
He seems all right.
‘How was the meeting?’ ‘It was all right!’
All Right as an Interjection
All right, that’s enough!
‘Class, are you done?’ ‘Yes, Ma’am!’ ‘All right, let’s proceed to the next lesson.’
All right, let’s go!
All Right is Not Used Before a Noun
Was it an all right show? (incorrect)
Was the show all right? (correct)
Conclusion: Alright vs. All right: Which One is Correct?
All right is correct, while alright is incorrect. The former is an accepted phrase by dictionaries and grammar books, while the latter is grammatically incorrect—despite being used, especially in informal writing. Thus, always use all right and treat alright as a misspelled world we should avoid.
References:
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). All right and alright. In https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ dictionary. Retrieved February 10, 2022 https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/all-right-and-alright
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. (n.d.). All right or alright. In https://www.ldoceonline.com/ dictionary. Retrieved February 10, 2022 https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/alright
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Alright. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alright
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). All right or alright. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 10, 2022 https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/all-right-or-alright-which-is-correct
