Revised as of 10 April 2021
This combined form word confusion probably arises from the same general confusion as reigns over the other alls: “All Ready versus Already“, “All Right versus Alright“, and “All Together versus Altogether“.
Just like “All Ready versus Already“, all ways and always mean two different things and can really screw up a reader’s interpretation. So always be sure to consider all the ways in which your phrasing and word choices can change what you mean.
And, yes, that the in the middle of all the ways is acceptable and generally implied when using all ways.
Word Confusions…
…started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noir for you from either end.
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| All Ways | Always |
|---|---|
| Credit to: Apple Dictionary.com; English Plus; Grammarist | |
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Traffic Jams and People Walking Home Through Akasaka by Hikosaemon is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — Cars and people are going all ways. |
People Shoveling Snow on Belden Ave, Chicago, by Victor Grigas is under the CC0 1.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — Snow is always cold and always needs to be shoveled, somewhere. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Adverb + Noun = Adverbial Phrase | Adverb |
| Using every possible method
Total number of methods In every single way From all sides |
At all times
As a last resort
[Archaic] Alway |
| Examples: | |
| He tried all ways to fix the leak.
“He said he hopes to partner with the school in all ways possible, and to help make the students feel at home” (The Register-Herald). “We do not have to succumb to easy dichotomies — either the young men are to be supported in all ways or you are racist; either the police are to be supported in all ways or you are foolish” (The Olympian). “Oehler says small things, like keeping your cats indoors …, planting fruit-bearing species like blackberries and native grasses, and using bird-safe glass … are all ways in which anybody can help protect the birds with which they share a city” (Newsweek Magazine). We worked my manuscript over, trying all his ways to make those characters come to life. All the ways into town are blocked. In all ways, she’s making it better and better. |
The clock always chimes on the hour.
“I will always love you,” she sang. The sun always rises in the east. She had always been an obstinate sort. She will always be missed. He is always making derogatory remarks. If the marriage doesn’t work out, we can always get divorced. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: always-on | |
| History of the Word: | |
| First known use may have been 1578. | Middle English |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan…which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them…and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Afternoon Sun On The Rails & Power Lines, <https://visualhunt.com/f2/photo/527263065/40bf86cccc/>, Washington DC, by takomabibelot is under the CC BY 2.0 license, via VisualHunt.
