Is It All Together or Altogether? Difference, Examples, and Easy Rule

All Together means everyone or everything in one group. Altogether means completely, entirely, or in total. The safest way to choose the right form is to check how the words work in the sentence.

We sang all together at the end.
The trip was altogether too expensive.

These forms are easy to confuse because spacing changes the meaning. A one-word form often works differently from a two-word phrase. Use all together when the sentence means everyone or everything in one group. Use altogether when the sentence means completely, entirely, or in total.

All Together vs. Altogether at a glance

Form	Part of speech	Meaning	Example
all together	phrase	everyone or everything in one group	We sang all together at the end.
altogether	adverb	completely, entirely, or in total	The trip was altogether too expensive.

Quick rule:

All Together = everyone or everything in one group.
Altogether = completely, entirely, or in total.
If the meaning does not fit, change the spelling or spacing.

When to use all together

Use all together when your sentence is about everyone or everything in one group. This form is correct when that idea is the main point.

Examples:

We sang all together at the end.
The sentence uses all together because it means everyone or everything in one group.
A reader would expect all together in this context.
Replacing it with altogether would change the meaning.

A helpful editing test is to replace the word or phrase with its definition. If the sentence still says what you want, the form is probably right. If the sentence becomes strange, you likely need the other form.

When to use altogether

Use altogether when your sentence is about completely, entirely, or in total. Even if it looks nearly the same as all together, it gives the reader a different meaning.

Examples:

The trip was altogether too expensive.
The sentence uses altogether because it means completely, entirely, or in total.
Replacing it with all together would make the sentence inaccurate.
In careful writing, choose by meaning rather than appearance.

This difference matters in school writing, business emails, resumes, and public content. One spacing mistake can distract readers and make a clear sentence look careless.

The easiest memory trick

All together means in one group. Altogether means completely or in total.

You can also ask:

> Is the sentence about everyone or everything in one group, or is it about completely, entirely, or in total?

If the first meaning fits, choose all together. If the second meaning fits, choose altogether.

Common phrases with all together

stand all together
work all together
arrive all together
sing all together

Examples:

The phrase stand all together uses all together because it connects to everyone or everything in one group.
The phrase work all together follows the same meaning pattern.
Memorizing common phrases helps you write faster and more accurately.

Common phrases with altogether

altogether different
altogether too much
altogether impossible
altogether better

Examples:

The phrase altogether different uses altogether because it connects to completely, entirely, or in total.
The phrase altogether too much is another common use.
If the phrase looks wrong, check the meaning before changing the spelling.

Common mistakes and corrections

Incorrect	Correct	Why
We sang altogether at the end.	We sang all together at the end.	The sentence needs all together because it means everyone or everything in one group.
The trip was all together too expensive.	The trip was altogether too expensive.	The sentence needs altogether because it means completely, entirely, or in total.

More corrections:

Incorrect: I chose the form because it looked familiar.
Correct: I chose the form because its meaning matched the sentence.
Incorrect: I treated both forms as interchangeable.
Correct: I kept all together and altogether separate.

The same meaning-first habit helps across the One Word or Two archive as more guides are added.

More example sentences

Examples with all together:

We sang all together at the end.
The editor chose all together because it matched the intended meaning.
In this sentence, all together is clear and natural.
The sentence would change meaning with altogether.

Examples with altogether:

The trip was altogether too expensive.
The teacher accepted the sentence because altogether was accurate.
In this context, altogether cannot be replaced by all together.
The word choice tells the reader exactly what you mean.

Why this difference matters

Small word-choice and spacing errors can make otherwise good writing look careless. In casual messages, readers may still understand you. In formal writing, a confusing form can reduce trust and make the reader pause.

The best fix is a simple habit: slow down, define the form in plain English, and choose the version that matches the meaning. That habit works for all together and altogether, and it works for many other confusing English words.

Extra editing check

Before you publish or submit important writing, test the form in a full sentence. If the definition does not fit naturally, switch to the other form. This extra check helps you avoid repeating the same mistake in emails, essays, forms, and professional documents.

For extra safety, read the sentence out loud and explain the form in simple English. If your explanation matches everyone or everything in one group, choose all together. If it matches completely, entirely, or in total, choose altogether.

Quick quiz

Choose the correct form.

We sang all together at the end.
The trip was altogether too expensive.
Which form means everyone or everything in one group: all together or altogether?
Which form means completely, entirely, or in total: all together or altogether?

Answers:

all together
altogether
all together
altogether

FAQ

Is all together the same as altogether?

No. all together means everyone or everything in one group, while altogether means completely, entirely, or in total. They should not be used as substitutes.

How do I remember all together vs. altogether?

Use the meaning test. Ask what the sentence is actually saying, then choose the form that matches that meaning.

Which form is more common?

It depends on the topic. Frequency is less important than accuracy. Choose the form that makes the sentence clear and true.

Can these forms appear in formal writing?

Yes. Both forms can appear in formal writing when used correctly. The important part is choosing the one that fits the sentence.

Final tip

Do not choose between all together and altogether by appearance alone. If the sentence means everyone or everything in one group, use all together. If it means completely, entirely, or in total, use altogether.