Altogether vs. All Together: What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Altogether is one word meaning completely, in total, or considering everything. All together is two words meaning everyone or everything together. “I am altogether satisfied” means completely satisfied; “We are all together” means the whole group is together.
Difference at a Glance
| Feature | Altogether | All together |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Completely; in total; overall | Everyone or everything together |
| Word class | Adverb | All + together |
| Useful substitution | Entirely, in total, on balance | As a whole group; in one place |
| Example | The tickets cost £40 altogether. | The children sat all together. |
Definitions
Altogether
An adverb expressing completeness, a total, or an overall judgment.
altogether + adjective / amount + altogether / altogether, + judgment
That is an altogether different issue.
Altogether, the trip was a success.
All together
A phrase indicating that every member or item is together.
be all together / gather all together / all + verb + together
We were all together for the celebration.
Put the documents all together in one folder.
Grammar Rule
Key Rule: Try a meaning-based substitution. If entirely, in total, or overall preserves the intended meaning, choose altogether. If the point is that all people or things form a group, choose all together. The words can separate: “We all worked together” still describes collective participation.
Do not decide only from the nearby verb. “They stopped altogether” can mean they stopped completely; “They stopped all together” can mean every person stopped together. Both forms can be grammatical while communicating different ideas.
Totals and groups are different meanings
Suppose three purchases cost £12, £8, and £10. They cost £30 altogether: the sentence gives a total. If you put the three receipts all together in an envelope, the sentence describes their arrangement. The same objects can appear in both situations, but the intended information changes.
With an evaluation, altogether often summarizes the whole situation: “Altogether, the workshop was useful.” With an adjective, it can strengthen the description: “The second proposal is altogether different.” Neither use describes a physical group, so splitting the word would lose the intended meaning.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: I am not all together convinced by that explanation.
Correct: I am not altogether convinced by that explanation.
The intended meaning is not completely convinced.
Incorrect: That is an all together different question.
Correct: That is an altogether different question.
Altogether modifies different and means entirely.
Incorrect: Please keep the files altogether in one folder, so none is separated.
Correct: Please keep the files all together in one folder, so none is separated.
The intended meaning is all the files in one group, not completely or in total.
More Correct Examples
Mini Quiz
1. Choose: The two books cost £18 _____, meaning in total.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: altogether
A combined total takes the single-word adverb.
2. Choose: It is an _____ different approach.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: altogether
Altogether means completely and modifies different.
3. Choose: We were _____ in the same room for the first time.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: all together
The sentence describes the whole group being in one place.
4. Rewrite with entirely: I am altogether satisfied.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: I am entirely satisfied.
The substitution confirms the meaning completely.
5. Which spelling means everyone acted as a group: They answered altogether / all together?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: They answered all together.
Two words describe the participants answering together.
Common Learner Questions
Can altogether mean in total?
Yes. In “The tickets cost £40 altogether,” it gives the combined amount.
Can all and together be separated?
Yes. “We all studied together” and “We studied all together” both describe the whole group studying together.
Is altogether always about completeness?
No. It can also express a total or introduce an overall judgment, as in “Altogether, it was a productive day.”
Can both spellings fit the same sentence?
Sometimes, but the meaning changes. “They stopped altogether” suggests complete cessation; “They stopped all together” emphasizes the whole group stopping together.
Usage References
Usage checked on . Examples and practice questions are original TypoGrammar material.