All right and alright: which is correct?
All right vs. alright: which is it?
The architect confirmed that the structural integrity of the building was all right after the tremors.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m totally alright,” she texted back.
How is the word-phrase all right/alright written, as one word or two?
What’s the difference between alright and all right?
All right is an adverb phrase, and alright is typically used as an exclamation or an interjection to show agreement. Both spellings mean the same thing, and are pronounced similarly, but alright is seen as informal.
All right is technically correct. In doubt, especially in formal writing, stick to all right as two words.’Alright‘ is extremely common, especially in casual text messages and in conversation. It’s common to see Alright in fiction writing, songwriting, and blogs as well. So, for more ‘creative writing’ purposes, it’s totally alright (to use ‘alright’).
The takeaway is that in daily conversation and text, alright is completely all right. If it’s formal or business writing, use the two-word phrase, all right.
Avoid ‘alright’ in formal writing, and stick to the two-word phrase, ‘all right’.
Alright and all right (in sentences)
| Word | Sentences |
|---|---|
| Alright |
He didn’t feel completely alright after the long flight.
The concert was alright, but I expected more energy from the performers. It’s alright if you don’t have the exact details now; you can provide them later. |
| All right |
She assured me that everything would be all right in the end.
Is it all right if I borrow your pen for a moment? Despite the storm, the house held up all right and sustained minimal damage. |
Similar words
| Word | Similar words |
|---|---|
| alright (adv.) | satisfactory, acceptable, adequately, good enough, fine, passably, ok |
| all right (exclamation) | fine, good, okay, right, yes, agreed, sure, sounds good |
Origin of the word/phrase all right (alright)
Old English eall “every, entire, the whole quantity of” (adj.), “fully, wholly, entirely” (adv.), from Proto-Germanic *alnaz, with no certain connection outside Germanic. As a noun, in Old English, “all that is, everything.”
Old English riht, of actions, “just, good, fair, in conformity with moral law; proper, fitting, according to standard; rightful, legitimate, lawful; correct in belief, orthodox;” of persons or their characters, “disposed to do what is good or just;” also literal, “straight, not bent; direct, being the shortest course; erect,” from Proto-Germanic *rehtan.
Practice: Alright or all right?
The presentation went ______, though I was a bit nervous.
For the legal document, the lawyer needed to confirm that the details were ______.
Is it ______ if I meet you there in about an hour?
The students were ______ for the field trip to begin.
He checked the engine and said the car was ______ to drive.
Citation:
Yash, D. “Alright vs All Right: Which is Correct?” Grammarflex,
www.grammarflex.com/alright-vs-all-right-which-is-correct/
Sources
- “Alright, Adv.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, September 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/2921436624.
Yash, D. "How to Use Alright vs. All Right." Grammarflex, Sep 15, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/alright-vs-all-right/.
