Question for the flist-mind

[thismaz]

Dear flist,

I think, for once, this is a question directed more towards the Brits on my flist.

The word 'alright'.

Is that an acceptable spelling?

Or would you always spell it as two words?

Would you feel differently, depending on whether you were writing narrative or dialogue?

Any and all opinion welcome.

*hugs wonderful flist-mind*

Comments

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

I always use 'all right'. 'Alright' seems more slangy; it wouldn't get past an editor if I used it in a book.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I think, perhaps, that I see the two versions as similar in relationship to 'all ways' and 'always' - not meaning exactly the same as each other - as Ningloreth and the Cambridge Guide to English Usage seem to suggest as well.

'All right' suggests that all is right - 'alright' suggests that things are just about acceptable.

Also of course, you wouldn't say "All right," as an agreement to do something, I don't think - as in

"When you are out can you get a bottle of milk?" "Alright."

Or would you actually have to write

"When you are out can you get a bottle of milk?" "All right."?

Which just looks silly. Well, to me, anyway.

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

I hear what you're saying ::nods::

I'd still never use it ;-)))

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Do you think there is a North American/British divide here? You've been in North America a long time. Were you publishing before you went?

What would your editor say if one of your characters used the word alright, to mean okay, as in the reply to 'will you get me a bottle of milk?' Or would you change the alright to okay, so that it didn't cause a problem.

My specific example is one character saying 'come to bed' and the other saying, 'alright'. 'All right' just doesn't work, it doesn't actually make sense as a reply in that context.

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

It could be, but I don't think so. It just feels too wrong to spell it that way so it's probably how my teachers taught me. Yes, I'd change it to 'okay' or rather, I'd never have used 'alright' so it wouldn't come up, but in all the publishers style guides I've seen, 'alright' is forbidden.

Honestly, I think people would see the 'all right' in that sentence and accept it without thought. But you could work around it. "Sure", "I'm on my way." "Mmm. Yes." Or just have the character nod and slide between the sheets.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Or just have the character nod and slide between the sheets.
*grins* I actually had him say, "Yes," instead. It worked fine in the context.