Grammar Clinic: The REAL difference between ALRIGHT and ALL RIGHT

All right and Alright actually mean the same thing. However, All right is more preferred in Standard English.

Alright Not Widely Accepted

Many people use alright unaware that it is not universally accepted as a word. It should be written all right. However, the merger of all right to alright has been underway for over a century, and it is becoming more acceptable. Mergers such as altogether and already are fully acceptable. They are far older than alright.

It’s Not Right, and It’s Not Wrong

Interestingly, the Microsoft Word spellchecker will not highlight alright as an error, but it will also not suggest alright if you spell it incorrectly.

Therefore, Microsoft is sitting on the fence with regard to alright being accepted as standard.

But Alright is Deemed More Modern by Some

Some would even argue that, through common usage, alright is becoming more acceptable than all right.

Hint: To be on the safe side, endeavour to always use All right especially in formal writings.