An Everyday Misuse I See Every Day

When I saw this sign outside a local gas station, I cringed: "Special discount! Diet Pepsi 12 packs $2.99 everyday through June!"

Then, when I did a quick Internet search, I found two other teeth grinders: "It is not sufficient to arrest them in the morning and release them in the evening as the government here is doing almost everyday." And "Everyday is Mother’s Day."

If you don’t see the problem with the sentences above, you’re one of many people who no longer make a distinction between everyday and every day. But these two terms have very distinct meanings. And I would hate for them to blur into one indistinguishable mass.

Everyday refers to something that is ordinary, normal, run-of-the-mill – something you encounter routinely. Every day means daily, or each day, without exception. You change out of your everyday clothes into your party clothes. But it’s not every day that you go to a party.

You may not be able to make this distinction clear when speaking (nor may you need to). But be sure to keep it in mind when writing!

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