Altogether vs All Together: Understanding the Difference
Altogether and all together may seem similar, but they have distinct meanings and uses in English.
Altogether
Altogether is an adverb meaning 'completely' or 'in total':
✅ After reviewing all the details, I decided to abandon the plan altogether.
✅ He stopped using social media altogether because it was affecting his mental health.
✅ Altogether, there were twenty participants at the workshop.
✅ The books she bought from the bookshop came to $500 altogether.
All Together
All together is a phrase used when referring to a group of people or things being in one place at the same time, or doing something simultaneously. It emphasises the collective nature of an action or state:
✅ The choir sang the hymn all together.
✅ The family reunion brought us all together for the first time in years.
✅ Once you've gathered all the ingredients, put them all together in a large mixing bowl and stir well.
✅ Let's put our hands all together in the middle and shout 'Team' on three.
Common Mistakes
People often mistakenly use altogether in situations that require all together:
❌ Can you put your notes altogether? I'd like to see the overall picture of our findings.
✅ Can you put your notes all together? I'd like to see the overall picture of our findings.
❌ Let's sing the song altogether at the party tonight.
✅ Let's sing the song all together at the party tonight.
I hope you have found this content helpful in your English learning journey. If so, please consider supporting this blog by buying me a coffee. Your contributions greatly help in maintaining the blog and are highly appreciated!
Examples from the Media
Investigators removed more than one kilogram of meth residue from clothing that weighed 71.5 pounds altogether. —Daily Mail (2024)
Gen Zs like me have stopped dating altogether. We're opting for friends with (other) benefits. —The Sydney Morning Herald (2025)
While there is pain in the Blue Jays getting so close and losing, the afterglow of how their extraordinary run brought us all together remains. —Toronto Star (2025)
Lumping them all together as victims of a punitive state makes it much easier to ignore what they actually did. —The Washington Post (2023)
Practice
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.
1. I was altogether/all together unsure of what decision to make in such a complex situation.
2. We need to clean this room quickly, so let's do it altogether/all together.
3. During the concert, they were altogether/all together in the front row, enjoying the music immensely.
4. The company decided to revise its strategy altogether/all together in response to the new market trends.
5. The desk cost $5,000 and the chair was $2,200, so it was $7,200 altogether/all together.
Answer Key
1. altogether 2. all together 3. all together 4. altogether 5. altogether
0 Comments