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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.

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They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

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Is there one standard way?

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And is one way more correct than the others?