All Right Or Alright?

Be Word Wise

‘All right’ or ‘alright’? Lots of people are confused about which to use.

Here are a few tips that might clear things up, without getting too technical.

When it’s all right

The first thing to know is that ‘all right’ is never going to be wrong. If in doubt, use that option.

‘All right’ can mean:

OK, or fine, as in:
I’m all right.

Agreed, as in:
All right, I’ll do it

For sure, as in:
He was a crook, all right.

‘Alright’, although some of us dislike it, is becoming more acceptable, particularly in written dialogue and less formal writing.

In each of the examples above, ‘alright’ is definitely an alternative – but be prepared for arguments from purists.

There are times, though, when it is not the right choice.