Alright vs All Right | Meaning, Difference & Examples
“Alright” and “all right” are two spellings of the same word, which means “okay” or “good enough,” depending on the context. It can be used as an adjective, adverb, or interjection.
- Alright is a more informal version of “all right.” It’s considered correct in everyday speech, but not all dictionaries or other language authorities accept this spelling.
- All right is the more commonly accepted spelling, but it’s still not considered an appropriate term for academic writing or professional communication.
Allright (with double “l” and no space”) is a common misspelling of the word and is never considered correct.
How to use alright and all right
Alright and all right can be used in various contexts. The meaning differs slightly depending on its grammatical role (part of speech) and the context.
Part of speech | Usage or meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
Adjective | Used to describe someone’s physical health and safety or emotional state | Is Dean alright/all right now that the divorce is final? |
Used to indicate mild approval | This tea is alright/all right, but it’s not great. | |
Used to indicate agreement | Susie can come over if that’s alright/all right with her parents. | |
Adverb | Used to mean “adequately” | I think the job interview went alright/all right. |
Used to mean “certainly” | That’s a jellyfish, alright/all right! Don’t step on it! | |
Interjection | Used to resume a conversation or discussion | Alright/all right, what were we talking about? |
Used to indicate resignation or agreement | Well, alright/all right, if you’re sure. |
Frequently asked questions about all right vs alright
- Is it are you alright or all right?
-
Alright and all right are both correct spelling variants of the same word. You can use “are you alright” or “are you all right.” The latter is accepted by more dictionaries and is considered less informal.
- Is it doing all right or alright?
-
Alright and all right are both correct spelling variants of the same word. You can use “doing all right” or “doing alright.” The former is accepted by more dictionaries and is considered less informal.
- Is it everything is alright or all right?
-
Alright and all right are both correct spelling variants of the same word. You can use “everything is alright” or “everything is all right.” The latter is accepted by more dictionaries and is considered less informal.