Altogether as one word means in total (twenty-three volunteers altogether) or completely (they dropped the plan altogether). All together as two words means everyone or everything in one group or place: we sang all together. The test: if in total or completely fits, write one word.
altogether or all together — can you pick the right one?
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altogether = completely/in total; all together = everyone/everything together
- There were twenty-three volunteers altogether.
- The group abandoned the original design altogether.
- We put the chairs all together at one end of the hall.
What changed
First versionPlease keep the matching pieces altogether in this box.
RevisionPlease keep the matching pieces all together in this box.
Altogether looks like a familiar word, so the space disappears. But the pieces need to be kept in one place, and that's all together. One more test: all can move away from together, as in keep all the pieces together, but altogether can't be split like that.
They stopped talking altogether means they stopped completely. They stopped talking all together means everyone went quiet at the same moment. Not altogether means not completely: I'm not altogether sure.
Your turn
Choose the expression meaning in total: We printed seventy invitations ___.
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altogether — The meaning needed is in total, so it's altogether as one word. All together would mean the invitations were printed as a group.
Count how many guests in total are coming to your party. Use altogether.
There are twelve chairs in the main room and eight upstairs, so we have twenty altogether.
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