Word Twins: The All Together and Altogether Showdown!

All Together vs. Altogether

Let’s learn about two words: “all together” and “altogether”. Even though they sound the same, they have different meanings and uses.

The History

The phrase “all together” comes from putting the words “all” and “together” next to each other. It means everyone or everything in one place or at the same time. The word “altogether” started as a phrase too but became one single word over time. It means “completely” or “in total.”

How to Use Them

All Together: Use “all together” when you want to show many people or things are together in one place or doing the same thing.

• We sang all together at the party.
• The family’s all together for dinner.
• The puppy and the kitten slept all together in a basket.
• Put the toys all together in the box.
• The students stood all together for the photo.

Altogether: Use “altogether” when you want to say something is complete, total, or overall.

• The test was altogether too hard.
• There are altogether 30 apples in the basket.
• I am altogether happy with my new shoes.
• The plan was an altogether failure.
• Altogether, it was a fun day.

Trick to Remember the Difference

To remember which one to use, think:

• All together means everything or everyone “all in one place” or “together.”
• Altogether means the “total” or “complete” way of something.

Summary

“All together” is used for groups of things or people being in the same place or doing something at the same time. “Altogether” means completely or for everything as a whole. So, when you’re saying how many people are somewhere, you use all together. When you’re saying how you feel about something in a complete way, use altogether.