What is the difference between “everyday” and “every day”?

Question

What a difference a space ( ) makes!

Answer 1

I used to have a hard time with "every day" versus "everyday," too. Then, another teacher gave me this tip: if you can put the word "single" in between the "every" and the "day," then it should be two words. However, if you cannot do this, then "everyday" should be just one word.

Here are two examples:

1. "Joe McConaughy hiked the Appalachian Trail every single day for forty-five days to beat the record for fastest known time." --- Hence, the word "every day" should be two words, and not one.
2. "On the extended hike, McConaughy's everyday routine included eating 8,000 calories, including an entire sleeve of Oreos during lunch." --- In this case, it sounds funny to say that doing this is his "every single day routine," so in this case, "everyday" should just be one word.

Answer 2

I’m glad you realize there is a difference, because many people don’t.

When you do something daily, let’s say, then you do it every day. Every. Day. Two words. Two separate words. “Every day” means, refers to, and includes all days, just like “every cantaloupe” means, refers to, and includes all cantaloupes. You get the idea. A few examples:

1. Ken and Terry go jogging every day.
2. Does she work in the office every day?
3. We make sure to eat a nutritious breakfast every day.
4. Every day is a winding road.
5. Every day at work, they tried not to notice the mob of demonstrators.

When something is commonplace, ordinary, mundane, routine, average, run-of-the-mill, plain, or typical, then it can be accurately described as everyday. One word. One. “Everyday” is an adjective, a descriptor. For example:

1. After several months, the workers grew tired of the menial, everyday tasks and chores.
2. Both accountants think this quarter’s profits will far exceed anything resembling the everyday numbers the company is used to seeing.
3. I am everyday people.
4. Alex said Saturday’s banquet calls for formal attire, so it’s a good idea to forgo your everyday wardrobe.

That’s all there is to it. In sum, every day is an adverbial phrase meaning “each day”, while everyday is an adjective meaning “commonplace”, “ordinary”, or “routine”.