• 2-minute read
• 14th October 2017

Word Choice: Every Day vs. Everyday

Here at Proofreading Towers, we see certain common errors every day. Aptly enough, one of those errors is misusing the word ‘everyday’ in place of ‘every day’. But what exactly is the difference between these terms? In this post, we explain what you need to know.

Every Day (Each Day)

When used as two words, ‘every day’ means ‘each day’ or ‘daily’. For example, we might say:

I wash my pants every day.

This would imply that the speaker has very clean underwear. As in this example, ‘every day’ is typically used to modify a verb (i.e. an action word). This makes it an adverbial phrase.

Everyday (Normal or Routine)

‘Everyday’, on the other hand, is a single-word adjective. This means we use it to modify a noun (i.e. a naming word). At its most literal, it still describes something that happens daily:

My pant-washing routine is an everyday occurrence.

Here, for example, ‘everyday’ modifies ‘occurrence’ to suggest something happens each day. However, this word can also mean ‘ordinary’ or ‘commonplace’:

I’m wearing my everyday pants today, as I’ve lost my formal underwear.

Here, for example, the speaker isn’t implying that they wear the same underwear every day (thankfully). It simply means that they’re wearing their ‘ordinary’ undies instead of fancier pants.

Every Day or Everyday?

This is a classic compound word error, where two words are combined to make a new one. However, since the new word (i.e. ‘everyday’) has a specific meaning, it’s important not to mix up these terms.

To avoid errors, keep in mind that ‘everyday’ is an adjective, so it should always modify a noun. If you’re writing about an action, meanwhile, you’ll need the adverbial phrase ‘every day’. Remember:

Every day (two-word adverbial) = Each day

Everyday (one-word adjective) = Ordinary or commonplace