Quick answer: Everyday (one word) is an adjective meaning ordinary or usual, placed before a noun: These are my everyday clothes. Every day (two words) is a phrase meaning "each day": I wear these clothes every day. If a noun follows directly, use "everyday"; if you can replace the phrase with "each day", keep it as two words. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘everyday’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| everyday | adjective | ordinary, usual, happening or used routinely | Traffic jams are an everyday occurrence here. |
| every day | adverbial phrase (determiner + noun) | each day, on a daily basis | I check the traffic report every day. |
Using Everyday
Everyday is an adjective that comes directly before a noun, describing something as ordinary, common, or routine.
He wore his everyday jacket to the shop.
Everyday life in the city can be hectic.
These are simple, everyday words for beginners.
Power cuts are an everyday problem in the region.
Using Every Day
Every day is a two-word phrase meaning "each day", used to describe how often something happens.
She goes for a run every day.
We eat lunch together every day at noon.
He calls his mother every day after work.
I try to read for thirty minutes every day.
Memory Trick
If a noun follows right after the word, join it into one word: "everyday shoes" (one word, adjective, like "everyday" describes the shoes). If you can swap it for "each day" and the sentence still makes sense, keep it as two words: "I exercise every day" → "I exercise each day."
Common Mistakes
✗ I go to the gym everyday.
✓ I go to the gym every day.
Since "each day" fits here ("I go to the gym each day"), it must stay as two words.
✗ These are just every day problems.
✓ These are just everyday problems.
Tips to Avoid Confusion
- If a noun comes directly after the word, use the one-word adjective everyday.
- If you can replace it with "each day" and it still makes sense, use the two-word phrase every day.
- "Everyday" never stands alone without a following noun; "every day" is never joined into a single word.
- Compare with similar pairs: "everyone" (pronoun) vs "every one" (each individual one).
For more on related grammar, see compound adjectives. Also confusing: Afraid vs Frightened, Alone vs Lonely, Angry vs Furious. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Quick Check: Everyday or Every Day?
4 fill-in-the-blank questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “These are my ___ trainers, nothing special.”
2. “He practises the piano ___ before dinner.”
3. “Learning idioms is part of ___ English study.”
4. “We water the plants ___ during the summer.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between everyday and every day?
Everyday (one word) is an adjective meaning ordinary or usual, used before a noun: "These are my everyday shoes." Every day (two words) is an adverbial phrase meaning "each day": "I wear these shoes every day."
Why are everyday and every day so often confused?
They sound identical when spoken and differ only by a space in writing, so it's easy to write one when you mean the other, especially since both relate to the idea of regularity or routine.
How can I test which form to use?
Try replacing the phrase with "each day". If "each day" fits and makes sense, use the two-word "every day": "I check my email every day" → "I check my email each day." If it doesn't fit because the word is describing a noun, use "everyday": "everyday clothes" cannot become "each day clothes".
Can everyday be used without a following noun?
Rarely — as an adjective, "everyday" almost always comes directly before the noun it describes: "everyday life", "everyday tasks", "an everyday occurrence". If there's no noun right after it, you probably need "every day" instead.
Is 'every day' always two words?
Yes, when it means "each day" it is always written as two separate words: "every day", just like "every week" or "every month" are always two words.
What part of speech is everyday?
Everyday is an adjective. It modifies a noun and describes something as ordinary, common, or used routinely: "an everyday problem", "everyday English".
What part of speech is every day?
Every day functions as an adverbial time phrase. "Every" is a determiner modifying the noun "day", and together they act like an adverb of frequency in the sentence: "She jogs every day."
Can I say 'an everyday' as a noun?
No — "everyday" is not used as a standalone noun in standard English. It must be followed by the noun it describes, such as "everyday routine" or "everyday language".
Are there similar word pairs like 'everyday vs every day'?
Yes — this one-word-adjective versus two-word-phrase pattern also appears in pairs like "everyone" (adjective/pronoun sense) versus "every one" (each individual one), which follow a similar logic of compound word versus separate words.
How can I remember everyday vs every day?
If a noun comes right after the word, join it: "everyday life" (one word, adjective). If you can replace the phrase with "each day" and it still makes sense, keep it as two words: "I exercise every day" → "I exercise each day."