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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Using alright/all right
When should I use "alright" and when "all right"?
Top answer
Hi. The merging of all and right to form the one-word spelling alright is first recorded toward the end of the 19th century (unlike other similar merged spellings such as altogether and already , which date from much earlier). There is no logical reason for insisting that all right be two words when other single-word forms such as altogether have long been accepted.
- Hi.
- The merging of all and right to form the one-word spelling alright is first recorded toward the end of the 19th century (unlike other similar merged spellings such as altogether and already , which date from much earlier).
- There is no logical reason for insisting that all right be two words when other single-word forms such as altogether have long been accepted.
- Nevertheless, although found widely, alright remains nonstandard .
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13 Answers
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Hi. The merging of all and right to form the one-word spelling alright is first recorded toward the end of the 19th century (unlike other similar merged spellings such as altogether and already, which date from much earlier). There is no logical reason for insisting that all right be two words when other single-word forms such as altogether have lo
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I never use alright. I used to consider it incorrect for a long time. Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary more or less agrees with me:
—Usage. The form ALRIGHT as a one-word spelling of the phrase ALL RIGHT in all of its senses probably arose by analogy with such words as already and altogether. Although ALRIGHT is a common spelling in written dialogue and in other types of
—Usage. The form ALRIGHT as a one-word spelling of the phrase ALL RIGHT in all of its senses probably arose by analogy with such words as already and altogether. Although ALRIGHT is a common spelling in written dialogue and in other types of
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Nevertheless, although found widely, alright remains nonstandard.
Non-standard? I haven't seen that written in any dictionary.
Non-standard? I haven't seen that written in any dictionary.
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<I used to consider it incorrect for a long time. >
And now you don't?
And now you don't?
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We give you a lot of good information here that is not found in dictionaries.
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Mister MicawberWe give you a lot of good information here that is not found in dictionaries.
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I agree, and it's much appreciated, but the words non-standard do appear in the dictionary. Can you show me where the term non-standard is used to describe "alright"? Outside dictionaries, do you consider "alright" to be non-standard?
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American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:
Despite the appearance of the form 'alright' in works of such well-known writers as Langston Hughes and James Joyce, the single word spelling has never been accepted as standard. This is peculiar, since similar fusions such as 'already' and 'altogether' have never raised any objections. The difference may lie in the fact
Despite the appearance of the form 'alright' in works of such well-known writers as Langston Hughes and James Joyce, the single word spelling has never been accepted as standard. This is peculiar, since similar fusions such as 'already' and 'altogether' have never raised any objections. The difference may lie in the fact
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< the single word spelling has never been accepted as standard.>
But by whom?
But by whom?
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Not me. I always confuse them. Like the spelling of 'wierd'... or is it 'weird'?
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