Sometimes it’s hard to figure out whether a pair of words mean the same but are just spelled differently depending on the country of use or if they’re two very different words altogether. In the case of already vs all ready, one isn’t the British spelling of the other. Just like the previously tackled loss vs lost and immigrate vs emigrate, already vs all ready is a pair of commonly confused words. If you’re one of the many people who mix these two words up, then don’t worry. With this short little guide, you won’t have any more trouble differentiating these two words.
Already
This is an adverb that denotes time. It is used to describe something that has occurred by now or before a specified time. Already is also used to mean “so soon,” and could also be used to describe something that not only exists now but will continue to exist.
Examples
- The students should have already sent their papers by 11:59 PM tonight.
- My mom did not expect the guests to already be at the house when she arrived.
- There’s no need to convince me further since I’ve already booked a reservation at the resort you suggested.
- I need to think of another business idea since apparently there are already two French pastry shops in this neighborhood.
- Shari had already decided to focus on her career when her friends decided to introduce her to a bunch of guys.
All Ready
All ready is a phrase used to indicate that everyone or everything in a group is prepared. It also means being completely prepared.
Examples
- The team was all ready for their first practice with the new coach.
- I have my snacks in hand and am all ready to start binge-watching Parks and Recreation again.
- The kids are all packed and are all ready to go on their first cross-country road trip on their own.
- I hope you’re all ready to tackle this long list of errands mom asked us to do while she and dad are on vacation.
- The head of the IT department told her boss that the newly upgraded system was all ready to roll.
Already vs All Ready
Now that we’ve tackled what each term means, and have looked at some examples, let’s go into how to remember the difference. It’s always easier to keep something in mind when you’ve got a trick to remember it. So, here’s a little rhyme to help you know which is which:
One word and one L, “by now” you can tell. A space in between, “completely prepared” you mean.
And now that you already know which word is which, you’re all ready to go and use these words with confidence.