altogether

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "altogether" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adverb that is used to mean "completely" or "on the whole". For example, "We spent altogether too much money on this project".

✓ Grammatically correct

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Formal & Business

Lifestyle

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Travel

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Opinion

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Education

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World

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TV & Radio

Business

Law

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Better contact-tracing is vital to end the epidemic altogether.

The Guardian

Last November the governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber, put a moratorium on all executions and in April Connecticut became the fifth state in as many years to abandon capital punishment altogether.

The Guardian

An eight-month inquiry by the all party group on mindfulness found frontline public servants could be less likely to fall ill with stress, or quit altogether, if they engage in the increasingly popular meditation practice which involves increasing awareness of the present moment to help control anxiety and depression.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Most of all, though, it was the game that proved Conte's Juventus could indeed be beaten – even if wresting the title from their grasp would turn out to be another matter altogether.

The Guardian - Sport

So as a "career move" (as Grade himself described it) altogether quite attractive.

The Guardian - Opinion

Altogether, it's an unmissable course for filmmakers at any stage of their career.

The Guardian

"And the erstwhile foreign pundits will soon realise that it is not 'game over for Mugabe' but a new game altogether, not only for Zimbabwe and its neighbours, but for Africa".

The Guardian

Platini said it was possible that Uefa could withdraw its co-operation from Fifa if Blatter won or even boycott the World Cup altogether.

The Guardian - Sport

Paterson is an enthusiastic supporter of GM crops and earlier this month said: "The longer Europe continues to close its doors to GM, the greater the risk that the rest of the world will bypass us altogether.

The Guardian

After his visit to Santa Maria Maggiore, Francis, dressed in a simple white cassock and zucchetto, decided while on the way back that he wanted to attend to an altogether more mundane matter: the collection of his luggage from the residence he had been staying at before conclave and the payment of his bill.

The Guardian

The purchase that English film-makers have secured in Hollywood and America since the mid-1990s is altogether more secure, even if the movies aren't necessarily better.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the completeness of an action or state, position "altogether" directly before or after the verb for clarity. For example, "The project was altogether successful".

Common error

Avoid using "all together" when you mean "altogether". "All together" means "everyone in a group", while "altogether" means "completely" or "on the whole". For example, it's incorrect to say "The data was all together inaccurate" when you mean "The data was altogether inaccurate".

How to use

Learn how to use "altogether" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The adverb "altogether" primarily functions to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, expressing a sense of completeness, totality, or a summary assessment. As Ludwig AI indicates, it can mean 'completely' or 'on the whole'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Arts

10%

Sport

10%

Travel

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "altogether" is a versatile adverb used to convey completeness, totality, or a comprehensive view. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions grammatically as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. It's important to differentiate it from "all together", which has a different meaning. Commonly found in diverse contexts such as news, formal business settings, and lifestyle articles, "altogether" is a valuable tool for expressing complete states or overall assessments. Remember to use alternatives like "completely" or "on the whole" to diversify your writing, and avoid confusing it with "all together".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely

Indicates a state of being finished or total, similar to "altogether" when expressing entirety.

entirely

Emphasizes the whole extent of something, akin to "altogether" in its comprehensive sense.

totally

Suggests a complete or absolute degree, much like "altogether" when used to denote totality.

in total

Focuses on the sum or aggregate, comparable to "altogether" when summarizing a quantity.

on the whole

Indicates a general overview or summary, similar to "altogether" when considering all factors.

all in all

Presents a concluding summary, much like "altogether" when drawing a final assessment.

all things considered

Implies a comprehensive evaluation, akin to "altogether" when weighing all aspects.

as a whole

Refers to something in its entirety, similar to "altogether" when viewing something comprehensively.

taking everything into account

Emphasizes the process of considering all relevant details, much like "altogether" when providing a balanced perspective.

when everything is said and done

Signifies a final conclusion after all considerations, akin to "altogether" when reaching a summary judgment.

FAQs

How can I use "altogether" in a sentence?

You can use "altogether" to mean "completely", as in "The situation was "altogether different" from what we expected". You can also use it to mean "on the whole", as in "Altogether it was a success".

What's the difference between "altogether" and "all together"?

"Altogether" is an adverb meaning "completely" or "on the whole", while "all together" means "everyone in a group". For example, "They sang "all together"", versus "The plan was "altogether infeasible"".

What can I say instead of "altogether" to mean "completely"?

You can use alternatives such as "completely", "entirely", or "totally" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "altogether different"?

Yes, it is correct. "Altogether different" is a common phrase used to emphasize that something is completely or entirely different from something else.