Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

Troublesome twosomes
Modifier mishaps

ONE WORD OR TWO?

The following pairs of words commonly create confusion. Most of these pairs (though not all) contain an adverb that tells more about the verb—how, where, when, why, or to what degree.

a lot (many, much: Pongo likes Chinese food a lot.)

alot (nonstandard)

all right (sufficient, appropriate: The invoice seems to be all right.)

alright (nonstandard)

all together (all things in the same place, simultaneously, collectively: The team was all together when I mentioned the problem.)

altogether (totally, entirely: The report is altogether too much trouble at this late date.)

all ready (fully prepared: She was all ready for the interview.)

already (previously: She already knew the answers before they asked the questions.)

any more (additionally: She doesn’t have any more friends.)

anymore (any longer: He doesn’t love me anymore.)

any one (emphasizing one person as opposed to others in a group: Any one of the CEO’s golfing buddies could have told you the truth.)

anyone (generic meaning of anybody or all: Anyone can win this award if he or she works hard enough.)

any way (any method: I didn’t have any way to call because I forgot my phone.)

anyway (Use this word of the pair in all other situations. Technically, it’s an adverb, meaning nevertheless, in any case, or regardless: I never thought to call, but I didn’t have a phone anyway.)

every day (daily, day by day: He phones every day.)

everyday (descriptive word, used before a noun: I carry my everyday handbag and jewelry when I travel internationally.)

every one (emphasizing one person as opposed to others in a group: Every one of the members of the team expects a raise.)

everyone (generic meaning of everybody or all: Everyone can expect a raise if the team does well.)

may be (part of the verb is; also can be helping words in other action verbs: Hortense may be sick tomorrow, and she may be traveling.)

maybe (adverb meaning possibly: Maybe I am wrong.)

some time (a period of time; a descriptive word plus a noun: Mortimer has some time available at the end of the week.)

sometime (an adverb referring to when: Mortimer invited me to stop by and see him sometime; he said he was sure he had some time available this month.)

To select the correct word, create variations of the thought in the same context. If the variations require two words, the correct choice in your original sentence will become clear.

Example:

Spike doesn’t want to hire (anymore or any more?) auditors.

Variation:

Spike doesn’t want to hire three more auditors.

In this variation, three and more are clearly two separate words. Conclusion: Any and more have to be two separate words in the same context. So:

Correct:

Spike doesn’t want to hire any more auditors.

Another Example:

Jamale didn’t know anyone at the conference, but she attended (any way or anyway?).

Variation:

Jamale didn’t know anyone at the conference, but she attended several ways.

Conclusion: Anyway can’t be divided into two words in this context—it doesn’t make sense. It’s a one-word adverb. So:

Correct:

Jamale didn’t know anyone at the conference, but she attended anyway.

Memory tip

Try a variation of the sentence in question. If you’re able to change half the “word,” your context requires two words.