“Altogether” vs. “all together”: What’s the difference?

What does “aid” mean?

When two words or phrases sound the same, which makes them homophones, and have related meanings, as is the case with “all together” and “altogether,” it’s not so easy to make the right word choice. Luckily, we have a few tips to help you convey what you really mean.

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For “all together,” think “with each other”

The phrase “all together” most often refers to a group of people or things gathering or doing something at the same time. You can substitute this phrase with “as a group.” Here are a few examples:

• We’re going sledding all together tomorrow.
• All together now, tell me what happened.
• We carried the table all together from one room to the next.
• Counting our money all together, we had twenty dollars between us.
• Let’s get a picture all together.

When you want to refer to a group of people acting as a unit or objects or ideas being grouped, “all together” is the phrase for you. The best test of this homophone is to replace it with “as a group.” Does it fit? Then “all together” is the phrase you’re looking for. Here’s a visual clue, too: If you see two Ls next to each other in the word all, then you’re talking about a group.

For “altogether,” think “completely” or “on the whole”

The soundalike word “altogether” has a different meaning, but it’s similar enough to make it confusing. This adverb means “completely,” “totally,” or “taken as a whole.” Unlike “all together,” this shorter, single word doesn’t tell us who or what did something. Instead, it’s more likely to express how something was done or understood: completely or fully. Take a look at these examples:

• That was altogether charming.
• Are you altogether certain?
• She had an altogether different interpretation of the movie.
• Altogether, the donuts were the best he’d ever made.
• I’m giving up clogging altogether. I’m done!

If you can substitute the word “completely” or the phrase “on the whole,” you can safely use the standalone, complete-in-itself adverb “altogether.” There’s a visual clue for this one, too: If you see one L on its own, you’re talking about something taken as a whole, complete in itself. If that meaning fits, “altogether” is the word for you.

With context, replacement words and phrases to test, and even a couple of visual cues, it’s easier to know which of these soundalike tricksters will say what you truly mean. To learn the meaning of other confusing words and phrases, like any time vs. anytime, and find more tips and tools, head over to the Life Hacks Writing Hub.