At first glance, these two words look like they mean the same thing. However, looks can be deceiving. Compound words, after all, don’t always mean the same thing as the words that make them up. When they’re said aloud though, it’s difficult to hear the difference.
There’s a simple difference between ‘everyday’ and ‘every day’. ‘Everyday’ means something that’s typical or ordinary. ‘Every day’, on the other hand, means simply ‘each day’. It’s a small distinction, but it can make all the difference.
Everyday
‘Everyday’ is an adjective, so it’s a descriptive word. If you refer to something as ‘everyday’,it’s something that’s mundane, ordinary, or standard. For example, your ‘everyday clothing’ is the clothes you wear on a day to day basis, rather than the clothes you wear for special occasions.
‘Everyday’ may be used in a sentence like so:
- ‘For many countries, everyday crime is a much more real threat than terrorism.’
- ‘I’m looking for some good, heard wearing, everyday shoes.’
Every Day
The phrase ‘Every day’, on the other hand, just means ‘each day’. If you’re having trouble remembering how to use it, remember that ‘each’ is simply an adjective. If you have trouble remembering how to use this phrase, try replacing ‘every’ with ‘each’. It if works, then ‘Every day’ is the right usage.
It can be used like this:
- ‘Remember that you’re representing your business every day.’
- ‘I get the train every day to get to college.’
