Everything vs. Every Thing – Which is Correct?

While often confused, everything and every thing have distinct meanings and grammatical roles. Everything is a single-word pronoun meaning “all things,” referring to a collective whole. Every thing is a two-word noun phrase, emphasizing each individual item within a group. Both are grammatically correct in American English, but their usage depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Everything or Every Thing – Which is Correct?

Both “everything” and “every thing” are grammatically correct, but they serve different purposes. The key distinction lies in whether you are referring to a collective whole or individual items within a group.

Everything (one word) is a pronoun that means “all things.” It acts as a singular noun, referring to a complete collection or totality. For example, “Everything is ready for the party” implies that all preparations are complete.

Every thing (two words) is a noun phrase where “every” acts as a determiner modifying the noun “thing.” This phrase emphasizes each individual item or aspect within a larger set. For example, “Every thing in the box was carefully wrapped” highlights the individual wrapping of each item.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

To remember the difference, try the “Singular Substitute Test.”

• If you can replace the word/phrase with a single, collective pronoun like “it” or “all,” then “everything” (one word) is likely correct. (e.g., “Everything is fine” -> “It is fine.”)
• If you mean “each individual item” and could potentially insert an adjective between “every” and “thing” (e.g., “every single thing,” “every little thing”), then “every thing” (two words) is appropriate.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Everything	Pronoun	All things; the totality	She knows everything about ancient history.
Every thing	Noun Phrase	Each individual item or aspect	He checked every thing on the checklist before leaving.

How to Use Everything

“Everything” functions as an indefinite pronoun, referring to all items, facts, or matters. It is almost always treated as singular, even though it refers to multiple things. It can act as the subject or object of a sentence and is commonly used in general statements or when referring to a complete set without specifying individual components. It conveys a sense of totality or completeness.

Example 1: Everything she said was true.

Example 2: I gave him everything I had.

Example 3: Does everything need to be perfect?

Etymology of the word Everything

The word “everything” originated in Old English as two separate words, “æfre” (ever) and “þing” (thing). Over time, the combination “every thing” became a commonly used phrase, and by the 14th century, it started to be written as a single compound word “everything,” solidifying its role as an indefinite pronoun meaning “all things.”

How to Use Every Thing

“Every thing” is a noun phrase consisting of the determiner “every” and the noun “thing.” It is used when you want to emphasize the individual nature of each item within a group, rather than the group as a whole. While “everything” is a pronoun, “every thing” functions more like a distributive quantifier, highlighting that a statement applies to each member of a set individually. It is less common in modern English than “everything” and is often used for emphasis, sometimes with an adjective in between (e.g., “every single thing”).

Example 1: She examined every thing in the antique shop with great care.

Example 2: For the inventory, we must count every thing on the shelves.

Example 3: He remembered every little thing about their first date.

Etymology of the word Every Thing

The phrase “every thing” is a direct descendant of its Old English components: “every” from “æfre” (ever) plus “þing” (thing). While “everything” merged into a single word to form a pronoun, “every thing” has persisted as a two-word phrase to maintain its distributive meaning, emphasizing each individual “thing” rather than a collective “all things.” Its structure clearly shows “every” acting as a determiner for the noun “thing.”

Related Concepts

Understanding these broader grammatical concepts can help clarify the distinction between “everything” and “every thing.”

• Pronouns: Words that replace nouns or noun phrases. “Everything” is an indefinite pronoun, referring to an unspecified but complete collection of things.
• Determiners: Words that introduce a noun and provide information about it, such as quantity or possession. “Every” is a determiner that indicates all individual members of a group.
• Compound Words: Words formed by combining two or more existing words. “Everything” is a closed compound, while “every thing” remains an open compound (a phrase).

Examples from Media and Literature

• “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou (Here, “what you said” and “what you did” refer to the totality of those actions, similar to “everything.”)
• “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen, “Anthem” (Meaning: a flaw in all things.)
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.” – Steve Jobs (Here, “all matters of the heart” is analogous to “everything” in that context.)
• “He left every thing exactly as he found it.” (A common phrasing where the emphasis is on the individual items remaining untouched.)
• “I see every single thing you do.” (A clear example of “every thing” with an intensifier, emphasizing individual actions.)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. She organized ______ in her closet by color.
2. He knows ______ about computers, from hardware to software.
3. The detective examined ______ on the crime scene.
4. Is ______ ready for the presentation?
5. Make sure you check ______ before you leave.

Answer Key

1. every thing (emphasizes individual items)
2. everything (refers to the totality of knowledge)
3. every thing (emphasizes individual pieces of evidence)
4. everything (refers to the overall state of readiness)
5. every thing (emphasizes checking each individual item)

Everything Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
All	The whole quantity or extent of; the whole amount.
The whole lot	Informal term for the entire collection or amount.
The entirety	The whole of something.
Total sum	The complete amount or number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can “every thing” ever be written as one word?
No, “every thing” should always be written as two separate words to maintain its meaning as a noun phrase emphasizing individual items. “Everything” (one word) is a distinct indefinite pronoun.

Question 2: Which is more common in everyday language?
“Everything” (one word) is significantly more common in everyday speech and writing, as it refers to the collective “all things,” which is a frequently used concept.

Question 3: When would I specifically choose “every thing” over “everything”?
You would choose “every thing” when you want to explicitly emphasize the individual components or aspects within a group, often to highlight thoroughness, careful attention, or a distributive action. For example, “I checked every single thing on the list.”

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between “everything” and “every thing” is crucial for precise communication. While “everything” functions as a singular pronoun referring to a totality, “every thing” is a noun phrase that emphasizes individual items within a group. Knowing when to use each will enhance the clarity and accuracy of your writing. Always consider whether you are referring to a collective whole or individual components to make the correct choice.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, if you mean “all things” or a general totality, “everything” (one word) is almost always the correct choice. Reserve “every thing” (two words) for instances where you truly want to highlight the individual nature of each item, often for emphasis or clarity.