Is alright all right?
Well, almost. Alright is still not accepted in formal writing and the form all right is recommended in all functions. But alright is fast becoming equally acceptable, and in a few more years might become perfectly respectable. This is how linguistic change usually happens.
After all, already, almost and altogether are now standard usage, but were formed by contracting all ready, all most and all together. And even alone was once all one. But having said this, it is important to recognize the difference between, “These answers are all right (all of these answers are correct)” and “These answers are alright (these answers are satisfactory)”.
Similarly, the difference between all ready and already, or “They arrived all together” and “This is altogether unacceptable is important, and should be maintained in written English”.
Any time and any more are always written separately. Anything and anywhere are always written in this form. Anybody, anyone, anyway and anywhere are normally one word, except when the emphasis is on the second element. The use of the joined form in I would be happy with anyone of them is obviously wrong. It might be simpler to remember that anybody and anyone are exact synonyms, and so anyone can only ever be used where anybody can be used. Also, they are singular and should be followed by singular pronouns and verbs: Anyone can relax, so long as he (not they) doesn’t care whether he (not they) or anyone else ever actually gets anything done. Finally, anyway means “regardless” (Do it anyway), and any way means “in any manner” (Do it any way you like).
Spot the difference
Some words mean very different things, but look deceptively alike, and it is usually wrong to use them interchangeably. Born and borne are both past participles of the verb bear.
Born is limited to the idea of giving birth – She was born in May. Borne is used for the sense of supporting or putting up with (He has borne a lot of pain), but is also used in the sense of giving birth in active constructions (She has borne three children) and in passive constructions followed by “by” (The three children borne by her).
Disinterested and uninterested are often confused. A disinterested person is neutral and impartial, and has no stake in the outcome of an event. Only a disinterested observer can settle their quarrel. An uninterested person is one who doesn’t care. He was disheartened to see that the whole class looked uninterested during his lecture. However, the noun disinterest means “lack of interest”, since the word uninterest does not exist. Some children become high-achievers to make up for their parents’ disinterest.
Forgotten filler
Last week, we missed out means in our list of the nonsensical fillers with which we fill up the gaps in our speech. I won’t eat now…means…I am not hungry. This is, perhaps, a direct translation of the Hindi word matlab, and should be banished from standard spoken English. Also, avoid using basically. Stop and think before you use it. In most cases, you will realize that you can do without it.
