Everyday vs Every day

Everyday vs every day
Everyday clothes to wear every day
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Mixed up English

Everyday and every day are commonly confused in English. There’s no significant difference in pronunciation, but using the wrong one when writing is a mistake in the everyday English you use every day.

Everyday

Everyday is an adjective that means commonplace, ordinary, or normal.

These shoes are great for everyday wear.

You shouldn’t wear an everyday outfit to the wedding.

Don’t use the everyday dishes – it’s a special occasion.

Every day

Every day means "each day."

I go to the park every day.

I have to work every day this week except Friday.

Every day I feel a little better.

The Bottom Line

Everyday is a single word and is an adjective, so it’s the one that is used in front of a noun to describe something as normal or commonplace. Every day is an adjective (every) plus a noun (day), and it means each day.

More English Mistakes

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Everyday vs every day

14 Responses

  1. Kenny 27 March 2014 / 16:58

    So if you Say “Helping Other People Everyday” that is the improper way????

    So to correct the english it would be: “Helping Other People Every Day” correct?

    • lkl 27 March 2014 / 17:05

      Yes, in that phrase, “every day” is the correct term.

  2. Pascal 30 March 2014 / 23:12

    Never noticed the difference before, thank you. I learn every day.

  3. Tiago W. 10 April 2014 / 06:53

    I’ve been a teacher of English for years now and had never paid attention to this detail. Thank you fro Brazil!

  4. Dakota 14 April 2014 / 13:06

    Google drive always tries to correct my grammar when I use every day. It tries to make me change it to everyday, even though I am using it the proper way. Just goes to show that no one truly understands all of grammar.

    • lkl 15 April 2014 / 06:39

      I’d say it’s more an example of why technology can never replace humans when it comes to language – it can’t fully understand context the way we do.

  5. Md. Shahadath Hossain 20 April 2014 / 03:30

    I didn’t know this difference between Everyday & Every day before reading this post. Thank you Laura.

  6. Verusha Singh 14 May 2014 / 22:47

    Thanks! This was helpful.

  7. George 27 June 2014 / 06:37

    My student asked the difference today… and so I am here!!!!!!!!!

  8. Mo 24 July 2014 / 14:25

    Every day I help everyday people.

  9. carolyn 30 July 2014 / 22:06

    I just though of this reading the post. Her is an easy way to figure out how to use the word “everyday” verses “every day” correctly in a sentence. Try to put the word “single” in a sentence between every and day. For example, “I go to the park every single day.” and, “You shouldn’t wear an every single day outfit to the wedding.” The second one just didn’t sound right. Obviously, you could say that the second sentence sounds technically correct, but it really just doesn’t sound right. It doesn’t sound as correct as, “Every single day i drink a glass of milk”. So, if the word “single” sounds correct between “every and single”, then i would said that the correct spelling would be every day, with the space.

    Hope this helps!

  11. Gina Fatawil 24 April 2015 / 03:23

    this was asked during my job interview..just read today that my given sample during that time was correct

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