Everyday and every day are two correct but different words that are not interchangeable. Everyday (one word) is an adjective used to describe things that (1) occur every day (habitual), or (2) are ordinary or common. Meanwhile, every day (two words) is a phrase that functions as an adverb that means “each day.” While they are entirely different, their pronunciation is the same.
For example, “I eat my breakfast every day“, “I go to work every day.” These are common, daily activities I do every day, meaning each day of the week. Here, we use “every day” as an adverb. Meanwhile, in “Cereals are my everyday breakfast,” “This is my everyday routine,” we use the one-word “everyday” to refer to the mundane activities done daily.
When unsure which one to use, replace everyday or every day with “each day.” If each day makes sense, use the two-word form.
When to Use Everyday
Everyday (one word) is an adjective that means “mundane, ordinary, and common.” For example, “everyday clothes” refers to the ordinary clothes you wear on regular days. When using everyday, it always needs a noun before it.
Examples:
My everyday clothes are worn out already. I need to replace them.
I like the author’s writing style. He uses simple everyday language.
Her sprain made it difficult for her to do everyday things like washing the dishes and doing the laundry.
When to Use Every Day
Every day (two words) is an adverb that means “each day.” An easy way to remember this is the space between the two words. Another trick to remember which to use is to see if we can put another word such as “single” between “every” and “day,” as in “every single day. If “each single day” makes sense, then “every day” is the right one.
Examples:
Sakura goes to school every day.
There’s something I learn every day from work.
I’ve been doing the same things every day. I want a change of scenery.
Everyday vs. Daily
Everyday and daily are different words. Everyday is an adjective that describes something “common, ordinary, boring, habitual” while daily can be used as an adjective and adverb to mean “happening or done every day.” It also refers to a particular time in a day that happens daily or habitually.
To avoid confusion, remember that everyday refers to a habitual monotonous activity while daily refers to a specific activity occurring at a particular time.
Examples:
The flower shop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We receive our daily newspaper every day.
My everyday route is the same. I see the same things, and I’m tired of it.
I go to work and wear my everyday jacket.
Conclusion: Everyday vs. Every day – Which One to Use?
Everyday and every day are both correct but differ in meaning. Everyday is an adjective that always comes before a noun, which describes things as “common,” while every day is an adverb that means “each day.” Do not confuse the two words because they are not interchangeable.
Remember, using the two words “every day” when adding the word “single” between them still makes sense. Use a grammar tool to improve writing if needed.
References:
Merriam Webster Dictionary. (n.d). Everyday. In https://www.merriam-webster.com/ dictionary. Retrieved February 4, 2022, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/everyday
Longman Dictionary. (n.d.). Everyday. In https://www.ldoceonline.com/ dictionary. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/everyday
