One Word or Two

Updated: March 29, 2005

• altogether and all together
• a while and awhile
• everyday and every day
• maybe and may be

ALTOGETHER (adverb): completely; entirely.

He is altogether wrong about this matter.

ALL TOGETHER: everyone in a group; all in one place.

The pamphlets are all together in the folder on your desk. 

A WHILE (noun): a period of time.

You will have to wait for a while.

AWHILE (adverb): for an unspecified length of time.

You will have to wait awhile. 

EVERYDAY: ordinary; occurring every day.

Sometimes it can be hard to manage all of one's everyday duties.

EVERY DAY: each day.

I call my best friend every day. 

MAYBE (adverb)

If you don't have anything else planned, maybe you would like to go with us.

MAY BE (verb)

She may be going out with a few friends tonight.