One word or two
All ready vs. Already
Already is an adverb that means before now or sooner than expected. All ready is a phrase that means completely prepared. The guests are already here, and the food is all ready.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| all ready | phrase | completely prepared, or with everyone or everything prepared |
| already | adverb | before now or before a certain time; sooner than expected |
All ready
phrase: completely prepared, or with everyone or everything prepared
- The kids are all ready for the first day of school.
- Our bags were all ready by the door the night before.
Already
adverb: before now or before a certain time; sooner than expected
- I have already paid the electric bill.
- Is it already dark outside at five o'clock?
How to remember the difference
If you can drop all and the sentence still works (the kids are ready), use all ready. If it falls apart, use already.
Good to know
In all ready, all can point to a group (we are all ready, meaning each of us is ready) or mean completely (the room is all ready). Already is always one word with one l.
Spot the mistake
I've
all readyalready seen that movie twice.Correct: I've already seen that movie twice.
The players were
alreadyall ready for the game by noon.Correct: The players were all ready for the game by noon.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. By the time we arrived, the train had left.
Answer: already. The meaning is before that time, and you cannot drop a word, so it is already.
2. The tents are up and the campsite is for the night.
Answer: all ready. The meaning is completely prepared; the campsite is ready still works, so write all ready.