Nov 19 2008
Already or All Ready?
It’s quiz time again. Which of the following sentences are correct?
- We are already to go.
- We are all ready to go.
- He already arrived.
- He all ready arrived.
Sentences 2 and 3 are correct. Sentences 1 and 4 are as flawed as wooden nickels. But why?
RULE: “Already” is an adverb meaning that something has already happened, has happened in the past or before a particular time.
“All ready” means that everyone or everything is ready.
The “already/all ready” issue is a common bugaboo for writers. But like so many other grammatical annoyances, you can easily make friends with it by being aware of the simple rules surrounding it and exercising a modicum of care.
PS. If you haven’t responded to the recent “What If” Exercise, I dare you to do it now. (The photo is a bit scary, but the exercise is worth it.)
