play alright allright video
Commonly Confused

Alright vs. All Right

Is it all right to use both? Do they mean different things? Which one will make your English teacher smile?


Although the spelling alright has been in use for over 200 years, some critics have insisted alright is all wrong. Others maintain that alright and all right have distinct meanings and serve different purposes. Emily Brewster explains.

Up next

play alright allright video
Alright vs. All Right

 

Is 'alright' all right?

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

play video its vs its
Its vs. It's

 

Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.

play serial comma
The Serial Comma Explained

 

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

play body parts video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

play video his or her
Is singular 'they' a better choice?

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

play onomatopoeia video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

 

Some imitative words are more surprising than others