Spoonful #59: EVERYDAY vs EVERY DAY

EVERYDAY and EVERY DAY are related but not interchangeable. But don't just take my word for it ... the goal of this spoonful is to prove my point with easy-to-understand examples. There's even a little challenge at the end!

​EVERYDAY is an ADJECTIVE that means average, common, or something that's used, seen, or done 7 days of the week. You can put EVERYDAY in front of nouns like uniform, shoes, and life. Here are some sentences:

Meredith's everyday uniform consists of jeans and a sweater. 

Jeremy's everyday shoes are looking worn out. 

Reading, walking the dog, and making meals for my family are all part of my everyday life. 

EVERY DAY split into two words is a NOUN referring to 7 days of the week and answering the question, "When?" Now I'll amend the previous sentences to substitute EVERY DAY for EVERYDAY.

Jeans and a sweater are Meredith's at-home uniform every day. 

The shoes Jeremy wears to school every day are looking worn out. 

I read, walk the dog, and make meals for my family every day. 

I'll leave you with a challenge: can you think of words starting with "ANY" that work the same way? 

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay home as much as possible. 
Sincerely,

Laura Fineberg Cooper
A Spoonful of Grammar

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