"Already" = by now or sooner than expected; "all ready" = completely prepared or everyone is ready.
Time adverb: indicates something happened before the expected time, or before a reference point. Cannot be split into two words without changing the meaning.
By the time we arrived at the restaurant, the other guests had already ordered.
I have already told you three times — please stop asking.
She was already asleep when he came home at midnight.
Adjective phrase: "all" intensifies "ready". Means completely prepared, or that everyone is ready. "All" can be removed without breaking grammar: "We are ready" still works.
The luggage is packed and we are all ready to leave for the airport.
The food is all ready — you can come to the table now.
Are the kids all ready? The bus leaves in five minutes.
Common mistake
The test: try replacing with "by now" or "previously". If it works, use ALREADY (one word). Try replacing with "completely prepared" or separating into "all" + "ready". If it works, use two words: ALL READY. Another test: remove "all" from the two-word version — "We are ready" still makes sense. But you cannot remove a syllable from "already".
Trick to remember it
Substitution trick: "by now" = already (one word). "completely prepared" = all ready (two words). Another trick: in "all ready", you can remove "all" and the sentence still works: "We are ready." In "already", you cannot remove anything: it is one inseparable word.
Quick rule
Already (one word) = by now / sooner than expected (time adverb). All ready (two words) = everyone prepared / completely ready.
Did you know?
"Already" comes from Middle English "al redy" (circa 1300), which literally meant "completely ready" — the same meaning "all ready" has today. Over time the two words merged and the meaning shifted to a time reference. Today they are distinct words with different meanings, but their shared origin is exactly why so many speakers confuse them.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
We do not need to leave yet — it is only six o'clock and the movie does not start until eight. We are _____ early.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The team has packed the gear, the bus is waiting, and everyone has eaten. We are _____ to head to the stadium.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Already (one word) = by now / sooner than expected (time adverb). All ready (two words) = everyone prepared / completely ready.
The test: try replacing with "by now" or "previously". If it works, use ALREADY (one word). Try replacing with "completely prepared" or separating into "all" + "ready". If it works, use two words: ALL READY. Another test: remove "all" from the two-word version — "We are ready" still makes sense. But you cannot remove a syllable from "already".
Substitution trick: "by now" = already (one word). "completely prepared" = all ready (two words). Another trick: in "all ready", you can remove "all" and the sentence still works: "We are ready." In "already", you cannot remove anything: it is one inseparable word.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy