Allowed vs. Aloud, All ready vs. Already, All together vs. Altogether, All right vs. Alright, Altar vs. Alter
Here are a few tricky homonyms clarified for you.
Allowed vs. Aloud
Allowed means gave permission to.
Example: You will be allowed to enter the theater in five minutes.
Aloud means said out loud; spoken.
Example: She read her work aloud at the poetry slam.
All ready vs. Already
These two words may sound alike when you say them, but they have distinct meanings.
All ready means entirely ready.
Example: We are all ready to go.
Already means previously or so soon.
Examples: Is it summer already? (so soon)
I did the dishes already. (previously)
All together vs. Altogether
All together, which is a phrase, means in a group.
Examples: We are all together in the photo.
It is wonderful to be all together to celebrate your birthday.
Note that all can be omitted from sentences without affecting the meaning.
Altogether is an adverb meaning entirely, completely, everything included.
Examples: It is not altogether his fault. (entirely)
We had an altogether wonderful day. (completely)
Altogether, the groceries cost thirty dollars. (everything included)
All right vs. Alright
The word alright means the same as the phrase all right; however, alright is not considered a correct spelling in more formal writing.
Altar vs. Alter
Altar means pedestal, usually of a religious kind.
Example: They exchanged wedding vows at the altar of the church.
Alter means to change.
Example: Please don’t alter your plans.
Pop Quiz
1. We had to altar/alter our wedding plans because of the unseasonable rain.
2. I’m not sure that your conclusion is all together/altogether correct.
3. We were all together/altogether for our family reunion.
4. When will you be all ready/already to go to the party?
5. Tell me the secret all ready/already before I go crazy.
Answers
1. alter
2. altogether
3. all together
4. all ready
5. already
Take an Online Quiz
Try an Online Confusing Words and Homonyms Quiz usually reserved for Members only. Get your score and explanations instantly!
Hundreds of Quizzes at Your Fingertips
Get hundreds of additional quizzes not found in The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation or anywhere else! Click here to subscribe.
* Take the quizzes online or download and copy them.
* Get scored instantly.
* Read explanations for every quiz answer. NEW!
* Reproduce the quizzes to your heart`s content.
* Use one subscription for your entire family, classroom, or office.
* Dozens of English Usage Topics including:
o Subject/Verb Agreement
o Problems with Prepositions
o Pronouns including Who/Whom/Whoever/Whomever
o Adjectives and Adverbs including Good vs. Well
o Capitalization
o Writing Numbers
o Punctuation Marks including Commas, Semicolons, Quotation Marks, Hyphens, and Dashes.
o Hundreds of Spelling,Vocabulary, and Confusing Words including Affect vs. Effect, Lay vs. Lie, It`s vs. Its
Click here to subscribe.
Hundreds of quizzes designed to help you become a better writer, student, or proofreader. Great preparation for the SAT.
A gold mine for teachers, homeschoolers, and trainers:
* self-paced
* automatic, instant scoring online
* explanations to every answer provided
* every relevant topic covered
* downloadable and reproducible
* one subscription works for an entire family, classroom, or office
Click here to subscribe.
Don’t need all the quizzes at once? You can now purchase the same interactive, downloadable subscription quizzes individually.
Click here.
The Blue Book of Grammar E-Book Is Now Available!
What’s the advantage? It’s downloadable so you will have it with you wherever you have your laptop. Click here to order.
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation 10th Edition
An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, home-school families, editors, writers, & proofreaders. Great resource for SAT preparation.
View entire contents online
• Grammar Rules
• Punctuation & Capitalization Rules
• Rules for Writing Numbers
• Hundreds of Spelling/Vocabulary/Confusing Words
• Reproducible quizzes with answers
Discounts available for schools, bookstores, and multiple copies. Click to order.
________________________________________
English In A Snap: 68 One-Minute English Usage Videos
View Jane’s 68 one-minute video lessons that are available FREE. Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Tell your colleagues (and bosses), children, teachers, and friends.
Click here to view.
Valuable Link
Click here to read excerpts from Jane’s other wonderful book, Enough Is Enough! Stop Enduring and Start Living Your Extraordinary Life and listen to her podcasts. Learn more about Jane’s personal coaching work, speaking engagements, and articles that will inspire you to thrive.