All Ready or Already?

by Craig Shrives

All Ready or Already?

What is the difference between "all ready" and "already"?

  • "All ready" means "completely prepared."

  • "Already" means "prior to a specified or implied time."
all ready or already difference
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More about "Already" and "All Ready"

The terms "already" and "all ready" sound identical and are sometimes confused.

The word "already" is an adverb meaning "prior to a specified or implied time" or "as early as now." The term "all ready" means "completely prepared." It is slightly more emphatic than just "prepared."

Examples of "Already" in Sentences

Here are some examples of "already" in sentences:
  • It is already illegal to culture human-animal embryos for more than fourteen days.
    • ("already" = since before now)
  • When they pulled the shark up in the net it was already dead.
    • ("already" = since before then)
  • The wild Hepatica Nobilis flowers are already blooming — one month earlier than last year.
    • ("already" = as early as now)

Examples of "All Ready" in Sentences

Here are some examples of "all ready" in sentences:
  • Lillian is all ready. Mark is prepared to brief.
    • (Most readers would assume Lillian's state of preparedness to be higher than Mark's.)
Of course, the word "all" (when used as an indefinite pronoun with a meaning similar to "everyone") can precede "ready."

Example:
  • Is the tent ready? Is Jane ready? Are you ready? Are you all ready?

Top Tip: "All Ready" Equals "Ready"

"Ready" can replace "all ready" but not "already."

Try to use just "ready." If your sentence still makes sense, then you are safe to use "all ready"; otherwise, use "already." For example:
  • Jean is all ready.
    (Try the substitution: Jean is ready.
    • (As "ready" sounds okay, "all ready" is correct.)

  • I have already seen this film.
    • (Try the substitution: I have ready seen this film.
    (As "ready" sounds wrong, "all ready" must be wrong. So, "already" is correct.)
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? What are adverbs? Common errors in writing Easily confused words