Are you feeling all right . . . or are you feeling alright? And is there a difference? All right and alright are two variations of the same term – an adverb or adjective that is used to convey satisfaction, agreement, or approval. All right or alright are often used as synonyms for okay or adequate.
While these two terms are often used interchangeably and mean the same thing, there’s some debate as to whether both are correct. In this post, we’ll discuss the difference between alright and all right, including which one you should use in formal writing.
Alright and all right are both used to indicate that something is acceptable or in a positive state. For example:
It’s also often used as a response to the question “How are you doing?” in place of fine or good. For example:
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The choice between alright and all right depends on the level of formality you’re aiming for in your writing. In American English, all right is the traditional spelling and is generally preferred in formal contexts, while alright is a common variant used in casual or informal writing. In British English, all right is the standard spelling and is generally used in both informal and formal contexts, although alright has gained acceptance and become more prevalent over time.
What’s the key takeaway? While alright is becoming increasingly common and is generally widely accepted as an alternative to all right, the use of all right will always be all right.
Ensure your spelling is better than alright (or all right) by having your writing proofread by our expert team of editors. Get started today and send in your free sample of 500 words or less.
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