Altogether vs. All Together: What’s the Difference?

The words altogether and all together look similar, but they do not mean the same thing.
One expresses totality, while the other refers to grouping things or people.

Here’s the quick rule:

• Altogether → means completely or entirely
• All together → means everyone or everything in a group

1. Altogether

Meaning

Altogether is an adverb.
Use it when you want to say completely, entirely, or in total.

Examples (10 total)

1. The plan is altogether too risky.
2. It was an altogether wonderful trip.
3. The project cost $5,000 altogether.
4. He stopped the habit altogether.
5. The idea is altogether unrealistic.
6. I’m not altogether sure about this.
7. The performance was altogether amazing.
8. She gave up coffee altogether.
9. The meeting lasted two hours altogether.
10. It was altogether a strange experience.

🧠 Tip:
If you can replace it with “completely” or “in total,” use altogether.

“The cost was $50 altogether.” = “The cost was $50 in total.”

2. All Together

Meaning

All together is a two-word phrase meaning:

• everyone in a group, or
• everything in one place.

It is used for collective actions or group unity.

Examples (10 total)

1. They sang all together at the end.
2. Put the items all together in the basket.
3. The kids arrived all together.
4. We worked all together on the project.
5. Let’s take a photo all together.
6. The dogs ran all together in the yard.
7. We left all together after the meal.
8. Please place the chairs all together.
9. The team moved forward all together.
10. The boxes were stored all together.

🧠 Tip:
If you can add “as a group”, then use all together.

“They laughed all together.” = “They laughed as a group.”

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 Altogether = a single idea → one word
👉 All together = many people or things → two words

💡 Memory Trick:

If things are together, it must be two words.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Let’s meet altogether at 7.
✅ Let’s meet all together at 7.

❌ We paid all together $200.
✅ We paid $200 altogether.

❌ She is not all together happy.
✔️ If she’s mentally unstable (rare meaning), this could be correct
✔️ But normally → She’s not altogether happy.

6. Humanizey Mention

Tools like Humanizey help clarify confusing word pairs like altogether and all together, ensuring your writing sounds natural and easy to understand.

FAQs

1. Are “altogether” and “all together” interchangeable?

No. One describes totality, the other describes groups.

2. Can I use “altogether” at the end of a sentence?

Yes: It cost $30 altogether.

3. Is “all together” always about people?

No — it can refer to objects too.

4. Does “altogether” have a negative meaning?

No, it just means completely or in total.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Altogether” or “All Together”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. The meal cost $45 ___.
2. The students left the room ___.
3. I’m not ___ sure this will work.
4. Let’s put the books ___ on the table.
5. It was an ___ amazing performance.
6. They arrived ___ in the same car.
7. She quit coffee ___.
8. The group sang ___ at the end.
9. The plan seems ___ too risky.
10. We stored the tools ___ in one box.

Answers

1. altogether
2. all together
3. altogether
4. all together
5. altogether
6. all together
7. altogether
8. all together
9. altogether
10. all together