“All together” and “altogether” are both correct, but they do not mean the same thing. Therefore, the right choice depends on what your sentence means.
Use all together when you mean people or things are in one group, in one place, or doing something as a group. Use altogether when you mean completely, in total, or overall.
For example, “We sat all together” means the group sat in the same place. However, “We skipped dessert altogether” means we skipped dessert completely.
This difference matters because the wrong form can change your sentence. Also, it can make a simple idea sound awkward. Once you learn the split, the choice becomes easy.
For another helpful two-word vs one-word comparison, see everyday vs every day. That pair works in a similar way: the spacing changes the meaning.
Quick Answer
Use all together when you can replace it with “as a group” or “in one place.”
Use altogether when you can replace it with “completely,” “in total,” “overall,” or “on the whole.”
Here is the fast test:
If your sentence talks about people or things being together, choose all together.
If your sentence talks about degree, total amount, or a general judgment, choose altogether.
For example:
Correct: The kids sang all together.
Meaning: The kids sang as a group.
Correct: The plan was altogether different.
Meaning: The plan was completely different.
Correct: The tickets cost $240 altogether.
Meaning: The tickets cost $240 in total.
So, both forms belong in standard US English. However, they belong in different sentences.
Why People Confuse Them
People confuse “all together” and “altogether” because they sound the same in normal speech. Also, they look almost the same on the page. The only visual difference is a space.
That small space carries a big meaning.
“All together” keeps the words separate. As a result, the phrase still points to “all” people or things being “together.” You can often place another word between them, such as “all the kids together” or “all our bags together.”
“Altogether” works as one complete word. Therefore, it acts like one adverb. It does not point to a physical group. Instead, it tells how complete something feels, how much something totals, or how a situation looks overall.
Many writers also guess that the one-word form looks more polished. However, “altogether” does not work just because it looks smoother. In fact, it sounds wrong when the sentence needs the group meaning.
Compare these:
Wrong: We put the chairs altogether.
Right: We put the chairs all together.
Wrong: The meeting was all together unnecessary.
Right: The meeting was altogether unnecessary.
The first sentence needs the group meaning. Meanwhile, the second sentence needs the “completely” meaning.
You can choose any word easily with the help of Lexivorix.com.
Key Differences At A Glance
Compact comparison block
- All together = two words; means “as a group,” “in one place,” or “at the same time.”
- Altogether = one word; means “completely,” “in total,” “overall,” or “on the whole.”
- All together often describes people or things.
- Altogether often modifies a verb, adjective, amount, or whole idea.
- All together can often split apart: “all the files together.”
- Altogether should stay one word.
Now compare the choices by context:
| Context | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| People acting as a group | all together | It means everyone does something together. |
| Items placed in one group | all together | It shows physical or logical grouping. |
| A complete stop or full change | altogether | It means completely. |
| A total amount | altogether | It means in total. |
| A general summary | altogether | It means overall or on the whole. |
| A sentence where “all” can move before a noun | all together | The words still work separately. |
| A sentence where “completely” fits | altogether | The one-word adverb fits the meaning. |
Therefore, do not decide by sound. Instead, decide by meaning.
Meaning and Usage Difference
“All together” means “all in one place,” “all at one time,” or “all as a group.” It focuses on unity, grouping, or shared action.
For example:
The neighbors stood all together during the block party photo.
Here, the sentence tells us the neighbors stood as one group. Also, it shows where or how they stood.
Another example:
Put the receipts all together before you file the expense report.
In this sentence, the receipts belong in one group. Therefore, “all together” fits.
Meanwhile, “altogether” means “completely,” “in total,” or “overall.” It focuses on degree, amount, or summary.
For example:
The new schedule feels altogether better.
Here, “altogether” means completely or in every way. It describes the strength of the opinion.
Another example:
Lunch came to $38 altogether.
In this sentence, “altogether” means in total.
Finally, “altogether” can introduce a summary:
Altogether, the move saved us time and money.
That means “overall” or “on the whole.” It does not mean everyone moved as a group.
The grammar also differs. “Altogether” functions as an adverb. “All together” functions as a phrase built from separate words. So, the one-word form works as a single modifier, while the two-word phrase keeps the idea of “all” plus “together.”
If you like direct spacing comparisons, you may also want apart vs a part, which shows how one space can change the whole sentence.
Tone, Context, and Formality
Both “all together” and “altogether” work in everyday US English. Neither one sounds old-fashioned in normal use. However, each one fits a different kind of sentence.
“All together” sounds natural in casual, school, family, work, and event settings. You can use it when people gather, speak, move, sing, work, or sit as a group.
For example:
Let’s take the photo all together before everyone leaves.
That sentence sounds natural at a family party, office event, or school program.
“Altogether” also works in casual and formal writing. However, some uses sound a bit more polished, especially before an adjective.
For example:
That answer seems altogether reasonable.
This sentence sounds more careful than “That answer seems totally reasonable.” Still, it does not sound stiff.
In money, totals, and summaries, “altogether” sounds plain and useful:
The repairs cost $600 altogether.
Altogether, we had a great weekend.
So, the tone difference stays small. The real difference comes from meaning, not formality.
Also, pronunciation rarely needs much attention here because the two forms sound the same in ordinary speech. That shared sound explains the confusion, but it does not help you choose the right spelling. Therefore, use the meaning test instead of the sound.
Which One Should You Use?
Choose all together when your sentence answers one of these questions:
Are all the people in one place?
Are all the things in one group?
Did everyone act at the same time?
Can I put a noun between “all” and “together”?
For example:
We packed all the decorations together.
This sentence clearly allows words between “all” and “together.” Therefore, the two-word phrase fits.
Choose altogether when your sentence answers one of these questions:
Do I mean completely?
Do I mean in total?
Do I mean overall?
Can I replace the word with “entirely” or “in all”?
For example:
We avoided the highway altogether.
Here, “completely” fits: We avoided the highway completely. Therefore, “altogether” works.
Also, choose “altogether” for totals:
The groceries cost $94 altogether.
You do not mean the groceries stood in a group. Instead, you mean the total came to $94.
Next, choose “altogether” for a broad judgment:
Altogether, the new policy makes sense.
You mean overall, the policy makes sense. You do not mean everyone stands together around the policy.
A simple memory line helps: all together is about a group; altogether is about a whole.
When One Choice Sounds Wrong
The wrong choice often sounds wrong because it pulls the sentence in the wrong direction.
Consider this sentence:
The team worked altogether on the launch.
This sentence sounds odd because “worked as a group” needs “all together.” The corrected version reads:
The team worked all together on the launch.
Now the sentence shows group action.
Next, consider this sentence:
The idea was all together new.
This sentence sounds wrong because the idea does not gather in a group. The writer means “completely new.” So the corrected version reads:
The idea was altogether new.
Another common problem appears with objects:
Wrong: Please keep the forms altogether.
Right: Please keep the forms all together.
Here, the forms need to stay in one place or one group. Therefore, the two-word phrase wins.
However, the opposite problem appears with complete removal:
Wrong: We removed the old logo all together.
Right: We removed the old logo altogether.
Here, the sentence means the company removed the logo completely. It does not mean the logo joined a group.
When in doubt, replace the phrase. If “as a group” fits, use all together. If “completely” fits, use altogether.
You can choose any word easily with the help of Lexivorix.com.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
Mistake 1: Using “altogether” for group action.
Wrong: The students read the pledge altogether.
Right: The students read the pledge all together.
Why: The students acted as a group.
Mistake 2: Using “all together” for a complete stop.
Wrong: He quit checking his phone all together during dinner.
Right: He quit checking his phone altogether during dinner.
Why: He stopped completely.
Mistake 3: Using “all together” for a total.
Wrong: The rental, gas, and parking cost $180 all together.
Better: The rental, gas, and parking cost $180 altogether.
Why: The sentence gives a total amount.
Mistake 4: Choosing the one-word form because it looks cleaner.
Wrong: Keep your tax documents altogether.
Right: Keep your tax documents all together.
Why: The documents should stay in one group.
Mistake 5: Missing the summary meaning.
Weak: All together, the trip went well.
Better: Altogether, the trip went well.
Why: The sentence means overall.
These fixes work because they match the sentence’s purpose. Therefore, the fastest correction starts with meaning, not spelling.
For another common choice that changes meaning, see all right vs alright.
Everyday Examples
Here are natural US-English examples with “all together”:
The cousins sat all together at the graduation ceremony.
We put the camping gear all together in the garage.
The staff voted all together after the presentation.
Please gather all the permission slips together before Friday.
The runners crossed the finish line all together.
In each sentence, people or things form a group. Also, the phrase keeps the idea of togetherness.
Now compare natural examples with “altogether”:
The restaurant bill came to $72 altogether.
I stopped drinking soda altogether last year.
The second draft sounds altogether stronger.
Altogether, the fundraiser brought in more than we expected.
The delay created an altogether different problem.
In these sentences, “altogether” does not show a group. Instead, it shows a total, a complete stop, a stronger degree, or an overall summary.
You can also use both forms in one sentence:
Altogether, the project went better because the team worked all together.
This sentence works because each form does a different job. “Altogether” means overall. “All together” means as a group.
Another example:
The supplies cost $300 altogether, and we stored them all together in the closet.
Again, the first form gives the total. Meanwhile, the second form gives the grouping.
That contrast shows the whole difference clearly.
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
All together: Not commonly used as a verb in standard US English. However, the words can appear around a verb, as in “They all worked together.” In that sentence, “worked” carries the verb action.
Altogether: Not commonly used as a verb in standard US English. It functions as an adverb in normal word-choice use.
So, neither term works as a verb by itself. Therefore, do not write “to altogether” or “to all together” as a verb.
Noun
All together: Not commonly used as a noun. It acts as a phrase that describes people or things in a group.
Altogether: Not commonly used as a regular noun in modern everyday writing. However, the phrase “in the altogether” exists as an older idiom meaning nude. That idiom does not help most everyday “all together vs altogether” choices, and many readers may find it old-fashioned.
For normal writing, treat “altogether” as an adverb and “all together” as a phrase.
Synonyms
All together: Closest plain alternatives include “as a group,” “together,” “in one place,” “at the same time,” and “as one.” A useful opposite is “separately.”
Altogether: Meaning-matched alternatives include “completely,” “entirely,” “totally,” “in total,” “overall,” and “on the whole.” Useful opposites include “partly,” “partially,” and “separately,” depending on the sentence.
However, do not swap these alternatives blindly. For example, “totally” may sound more casual than “altogether,” while “overall” fits summary sentences better than complete-stop sentences.
Example Sentences
All together: We placed the chairs all together near the stage.
All together: The volunteers arrived all together at 8 a.m.
All together: Keep the receipts all together until tax season.
All together: The choir came in all together on the final line.
Altogether: We canceled the outdoor plan altogether.
Altogether: The hotel, meals, and rides cost $900 altogether.
Altogether: The update created an altogether better experience.
Altogether: Altogether, the first week went smoothly.
Notice how “all together” points to grouping. Meanwhile, “altogether” points to completeness, total amount, or overall judgment.
Word History
All together: This phrase combines two ordinary words: “all” and “together.” Its meaning stays close to those parts. It means all people or things together as one group.
Altogether: This one-word adverb developed from the same basic idea of “all” plus “together,” but it now works as a separate word with its own adverb meanings. It can mean completely, in total, or overall.
Because the forms share older word parts and modern sound, writers often mix them up. Still, modern usage keeps them separate.
Phrases Containing
All together: Common phrases include “sit all together,” “stand all together,” “work all together,” “sing all together,” “put them all together,” and “keep everything all together.”
Altogether: Common phrases include “stop altogether,” “avoid altogether,” “altogether different,” “altogether better,” “altogether too much,” “altogether unacceptable,” and “altogether, it went well.”
Also, “in the altogether” exists as an idiom, but it has a separate meaning and rarely belongs in everyday word-choice questions.
FAQs
Is “all together” ever correct?
Yes. Use “all together” when people or things stay together, gather together, or act together.
Can I use “altogether” to mean “as a group”?
No. Use “all together” for the group meaning.
Can I use “all together” for a total cost?
Usually, no. Use “altogether” when you mean “in total.”
Do they sound different?
No. In normal speech, they sound the same. Therefore, rely on meaning, not sound.
What is the best memory trick?
“All together” has a space because the group stays together. “Altogether” has no space because it works as one complete adverb.
For more usage help, you can compare this with affect vs effect, another pair where the right choice depends on the job each word does in a sentence.
You can choose any word easily with the help of Lexivorix.com.
Conclusion
The difference between “all together” and “altogether” comes down to meaning.
Use all together for people or things in a group, in one place, or acting at the same time.
Use altogether for completely, in total, overall, or on the whole.
Therefore, the easiest test is simple: if “as a group” fits, write all together. If “completely,” “in total,” or “overall” fits, write altogether.
