Everyday vs. Every Day: Adjective vs. Frequency
The Difference
- Everyday (one word) = ordinary, common, routine (adjective)
- Every day (two words) = each day, daily (adverb phrase)
Everyday: Describes a Noun
As one word, “everyday” describes something as ordinary or typical:
- “These are my everyday shoes.” ✓
- “It’s an everyday occurrence.” ✓
- “Everyday problems don’t require dramatic solutions.” ✓
It answers “what kind?” about a noun.
Every Day: How Often
As two words, “every day” tells you frequency:
- “I exercise every day.” ✓
- “She calls her mom every day.” ✓
- “This happens every day.” ✓
It answers “how often?” or “when?”
The Substitution Test
Replace with “each day”:
- If it works → every day (two words)
- If it doesn’t → everyday (one word)
“I wear these shoes _____.” → “I wear these shoes each day.” ✓ → every day
“These are my _____ shoes.” → “These are my each day shoes.” ✗ → everyday
Position in the Sentence
Everyday usually comes before a noun:
- “Everyday tasks”
- “Everyday life”
- “Everyday language”
Every day usually comes at the end:
- “I see them every day.”
- “It rains every day.”
- “Practice every day.”
Common Mistakes
Wrong: “I go to the gym everyday.” Right: “I go to the gym every day.”
Wrong: “This is an every day item.” Right: “This is an everyday item.”
Side-by-Side Examples
| Everyday (adjective) | Every day (frequency) |
|---|---|
| Everyday clothes | I wear jeans every day |
| Everyday activities | She runs every day |
| Everyday people | We talk every day |
| An everyday event | It happens every day |
The Song Test
Think of the phrase in a song:
- “Every day I’m shuffling” = each day (frequency) ✓
- “Everyday shuffle” = ordinary shuffle (adjective) ✓
Remember
- Everyday = ordinary (adjective before a noun)
- Every day = each day (how often)