Have you ever heard someone say “every thing” and then at another time, say “everything”? These two phrases might seem similar, but they have their own special meanings and uses. “Every Thing” means looking at each item one by one. “Everything” means all things together.
In this article, we’re going to explore these phrases in a simple and easy way, so you can understand when to use each one.
What Does “Every Thing” Mean?
When we say “every thing”, we are talking about each item or object in a group, one by one. It’s like looking at every single piece of a puzzle. For example, if you have a bag of candies, and you take out each candy one by one, you are looking at “every thing” in the bag.
What Does “Everything” Mean?
On the other hand, “everything” means all things together. It’s like seeing the whole picture, not just the pieces. If you look at the bag of candies and think about all the candies inside as one big group, that’s “everything”.
Every Thing or Everything
| Aspect | “Every Thing” | “Everything” |
| Definition | Refers to each item or element in a group or list, considered individually. | Refers to all things or the entirety of something, considered as a whole. |
| Context | Often used when emphasizing the individuality of items or elements. | Used to denote the total, the whole, or the entirety of something. |
| Example Usage | “I examined every thing in the box to find the missing piece.” | “I packed everything I need for the trip.” |
| Grammatical Role | Typically used as two separate words, with “every” modifying “thing.” | Used as a single word, functioning as a pronoun. |
| Connotation | Can imply a more deliberate focus on each separate item. | Often implies a more general or all-encompassing scope. |
Examples to Clarify
- Use “every thing” when you want to focus on individual items or details. Like, “We need to clean every thing in this room before the guests arrive.”
- Use “everything” when you’re talking about all things together, without separating them. For example, “Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
Here are 20 examples to clarify the difference:
- Every Thing in the room was meticulously cleaned, from the smallest paperclip to the largest desk.
- Everything in her life seemed to be falling into place, from her career to her personal relationships.
- The museum curator examined every thing in the collection, ensuring each artifact was preserved properly.
- Everything about the evening was perfect, from the weather to the music.
- He checked every thing in his backpack before leaving for the hike to ensure he hadn’t forgotten anything.
- Everything she said made sense, tying all the pieces of the puzzle together.
- The teacher asked the students to list every thing they needed for the project.
- Everything was covered in snow, creating a serene white landscape.
- She made sure every thing in her office was organized, from the pens to the files.
- Everything seemed brighter and more beautiful on that sunny day.
- He wanted every thing in his collection to be authentic and of high quality.
- Everything we do has an impact on the environment, so we must be mindful.
- Before the trip, she double-checked every thing on her packing list.
- Everything was going smoothly until the unexpected power outage.
- During the inventory, every thing in the warehouse was counted and cataloged.
- Everything felt different after the conversation; perspectives had shifted.
- He donated every thing he no longer needed to charity, item by item.
- Everything about the new city excited her, from its culture to its architecture.
- The artist considered every thing in his studio to be a potential tool for creativity.
- Everything about the new policy was explained in the meeting, leaving no questions unanswered.
These examples show the nuanced difference between focusing on individual items (“Every Thing”) and considering all things collectively (“Everything”).
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