Distinguishing Between All Ready & Already

Already and all ready are two different terms used commonly in English language. They often confuse students of English language because they sound identical. Already is a single word, whereas all ready is a phrase. Even though they sound similar, they are written differently and have distinct meanings. This article will clarify their differences to help students use them correctly while writing or speaking English.

All Ready
All ready is a phrase that consists of two words: all and ready. This means that you are emphasizing your state of readiness by stating that you are entirely ready. If you are all ready, it means that you are completely prepared (whether physically or mentally depends on the context in which you are using this phrase). When used in the context of a group of people, it simply reflects the readiness of the group or all the people comprising the group. Here are some examples to understand the meaning and usage of the phrase all ready:

• With the brand new raincoat, Ethan was all ready to face the incessant rain.
• Are you all ready to face the challenge?
• The children were all ready and raring to go for their picnic.

Already
Already is an adverb that means earlier than the present time. It also means as early as now. It is an adverb used to reflect something that happened before a specified time. In some instances, already is used to express surprise over something that has happened so soon. Here are some examples to understand the meaning of this adverb:

• The patient had already died by the time he was brought to the hospital.
• US forces have already started to pull out from Afghanistan.
• The flowers of the plant have already started to bloom before the advent of the spring season.

Key Takeaways

• All ready is a phrase, whereas already is a single word.
• Already is an adverb that means before a specified time or so soon.
• All ready represents a state of complete readiness or preparedness and can also be used to state the readiness of everyone in a group.