Every day or everyday: a useful difference

The idea

Every day means each day and tells when or how often. Everyday is an adjective meaning ordinary or usual, normally placed before a noun.

Examples

• I walk by the river every day.
• These are my everyday shoes.
• Our neighbour waters the plants every day.
• Cooking is an everyday activity for Sam.
• The bus leaves at eight every day.
• Mina keeps her everyday bag by the door.

Watch out

Do not write everyday when you mean each day: the time phrase has a space. Both forms have the same spelling in British and American English.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. Leo reads the news ___ before breakfast. (every day / everyday)

   Show answer or example answer

   every day

   every day: Leo reads the news each day.

2. Choose the correct option. This cup is for ___ use. (every day / everyday)

   Show answer or example answer

   everyday

   everyday: the word describes the use of the cup.

3. Choose the correct option. We hear the bells ___ at noon. (every day / everyday)

   Show answer or example answer

   every day

   every day: the bells sound each day at noon.

4. Choose the correct option. A bicycle is her ___ way to travel. (every day / everyday)

   Show answer or example answer

   everyday

   everyday: the word describes her usual way to travel.

Use it today

Write one sentence about something you do each day and another about an ordinary object.