Alright vs All Right
Published January 16, 2023. Updated January 16, 2023.
Alright and All right, actually mean the same thing. Alright is just the words all right put together. The difference is that alright is considered informal, while all right is considered formal. So if you’re messaging a friend, you can use alright. But if you’re going to write a paper for a class, go with the formal all right.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Alright (adverb, adjective)
All right.
Examples:
Alright, we all agree that this is how we’re going to proceed with the project.
This pizza isn’t my favorite, but it’s alright.
I slipped on some ice and fell, but I’m alright.
These are the most common ways of using alright: In the first sentence, it’s used as an opening, similar to the way you would start a sentence by saying “Okay.” It’s a way to show you’re about speak. In the second sentence, alright is used to mean something is acceptable. It’s not the best, but it passes. In the third sentence, alright is used to mean safe from harm. In this sentence, it’s used to mean safe in a physical sense, but it can also be used to mean safe in an emotional sense.
All right (phrase)
Remember that alright is just All right put together. Both forms are used in the same way, except that all right is considered more formal and should be used in academic writing.
Examples:
All right, get your pencils out. It’s time for a pop quiz!
The sequel wasn’t as good as the original movie, but it was all right.
Don’t worry, the baby just got scared in the dark. She’s all right.
The examples above use the phrase all right in the same ways the word alright was used: First, to get the audience’s attention. Second, as a way of saying something was acceptable (but not great). Third, as a way of expressing that someone is safe from harm – in this case, in an emotional sense.
Main Points
- Alright, and All right mean the same thing. The difference is that one is more informal while the other is more formal.