Imagine you're in a meeting and say, "We're altogether in this project." Then, your colleague corrects you, saying it should be 'all together'. Confusing, right?
When learning English, we often find words and phrases that sound similar but mean different things. 'All together' and 'altogether' are examples of this.
Knowing how to use these phrases correctly is important because it can change what your sentences mean. This article helps clear up the confusion between 'all together' and 'altogether' for learners like you, so you can use them right in your conversations.
Let's start.
What do 'All Together' and 'Altogether' Mean?
'All together' refers to a collective whole or group action. For instance, imagine you're at a family dinner and everyone is scattered around the house. You want them to come and sit at the dinner table, so you say, "Can we all sit down at the table all together?" Here, 'all together' shows that you would like everyone to do an action simultaneously.
'Altogether' is an adverb meaning entirely or completely. Suppose your friend has stopped eating sweets to stay healthy. You might say, "He has given up sweets altogether." This means he's completely stopped eating sweets—not just reduced the quantity but stopped entirely.
Remember, these two phrases are not interchangeable in spoken English.
For instance:
Incorrect: "We sang the birthday song altogether."
Correct: "We sang the birthday song all together."
Incorrect: "She was missing from work all together today."
Correct: "She was missing from work altogether today."
When to Use All Together?
'All together' is used when you want to say that everyone or everything is doing something collectively.
For example, if your friends singing a song, you could say "We were singing all together". Or you’re distributing sweets at Diwali and everyone comes to collect them at once. You might say "The kids came all together". Remember, 'all together' refers to the collective action of a group.
When to Use Altogether?
On the other hand, 'altogether' means completely or in total.
If you've stopped drinking tea entirely due to health concerns, you can say "I've given up tea altogether". Or consider this scenario: paying for movie tickets and popcorn for your friends, you spent around Rs 1,500. In this case, you could say "The night out cost me Rs 1,500 altogether". So, 'altogether' refers to an absolute state or the total sum of different elements.
Common Mistakes Made by Non-Native Speakers using All Together Vs Altogether
Many English learners in India mix up 'all together' and 'altogether', causing confusion and mistakes in how they're used. Here are some common mistakes:
Incorrect Sentence Construction: "We are altogether surprised by the announcement." 'All together' should be used in this context as the surprise is shared by a group collectively.
Misunderstanding the Meaning: "The team worked all together for the project." The correct term here is 'altogether', which refers to 'entirely' or 'completely'.
Check out this Clapingo video that explains more about common mistakes made by learners:
Practical Tips to Remember the Difference between All Together Vs Altogether
Use Context: 'All together' is used when referring to a group in unison or simultaneously. While 'altogether' implies entirely or completely. For example, "We sang all together at the party," but "I'm altogether tired of this song."
Check for Separation: You can separate 'all' and 'together' in a sentence. You can never separate 'altogether'. For instance, "We all came together for the event" is correct but separating 'altogether' as "She is all together tired" is incorrect.
All Together | Altogether |
Refers to a group acting in unison | Refers to something being complete or total |
Can be separated in usage | Cannot be separated |
Exercises to Practice Using All Together Vs Altogether
Here are some exercises that will help enhance your understanding.
Fill in the blanks with either 'all together' or 'altogether':
We sang the national anthem __________ at the Independence Day celebration.
Ramesh decided to quit smoking ___________.
The team worked __________ on the project.
Choose the correct option in these multiple-choice questions:
We need to put our heads __________ and solve this issue.
a. altogether
b. all together
It's another matter _________ when playing against an international team.
a. all together
b. altogether
Solutions: 1) all together, altogether, all together; 2) b, b.
How Clapingo Can Help Improve Your English Skills
Understanding tricky English differences, like 'all together' versus 'altogether' or Affect vs Effect, can be difficult. Clapingo is here to help! We provide personalized coaching to help you master these nuances in a supportive way. Our native English tutors customize each session to focus on fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence structure, ensuring you build strong language skills.
So, if you are aspiring to enhance your English skills, Clapingo is an excellent resource.
To Recap
In this article, we've talked about the difference between 'all together' and 'altogether'.
'All together' means a group acting as one, while 'altogether' shows the total or extent. For example, we sang the anthem 'all together', but she stopped eating sweets 'altogether'.
The key to mastering these phrases lies in regular practice. Constant effort is crucial to master English as a language. If you're seeking more in-depth learning and personalised guidance, consider engaging with Clapingo's services.
FAQs
1. What does 'all together' mean?
'All together' refers to all the elements or people being in one place or acting as a group. For example, in a family gathering, you might say, "We sang the birthday song all together." This indicates that everyone sang in unison.
2. When should I use 'altogether'?
'Altogether' is an adverb meaning completely, totally, or on the whole. For instance, if you decide to quit smoking, you could say, "I've given up smoking altogether." This means you've completely stopped smoking.
3. Can I interchange 'all together' and 'altogether'?
No, 'all together' and 'altogether' are not interchangeable as they have different meanings. Using them incorrectly can lead to confusion and misunderstanding in communication.
