Altogether vs All Together: Meaning, Difference, and Easy Examples

Altogether vs all together can be confusing because the two expressions look and sound similar. The only visible difference is the space, but that small space changes the meaning and grammar.

Altogether is one word and usually means completely, entirely, or in total. All together is two words and refers to people or things being together as a group, in one place, or at the same time.

For example:

I altogether disagree with that decision.

Here, altogether means completely.

But:

We went to the concert all together.

Here, all together means as a group.

Knowing what you mean is the easiest way to choose the correct form. In this guide, you’ll learn when to use altogether and all together, with clear sentences, common mistakes, pronunciation, synonyms, and simple exercises.

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Quick Answer

The basic difference is simple:

Altogether = completely, entirely, or in total.

The plan was altogether successful.

All together = everyone or everything together, usually as a group or in one place.

The children were sitting all together.

A quick memory trick:

• Altogether → think total or complete
• All together → think all people or things together

Compare:

The cost was altogether $500.
We paid the bill all together.

In the first sentence, altogether means in total. In the second, all together means the people acted as a group.

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What Does “Altogether” Mean?

Altogether is an adverb with several closely related meanings.

It can mean:

• completely
• entirely
• totally
• in total
• on the whole
• considering everything

The exact meaning depends on the sentence.

Altogether Meaning “Completely”

I altogether disagree with his decision.

Here, altogether means completely.

Another example:

That is an altogether different problem.

This means the problem is completely different.

You can also say:

The situation was altogether unexpected.

Here, the meaning is close to completely or entirely unexpected.

Altogether Meaning “In Total”

Altogether can also refer to a total amount or number.

There were altogether 40 students in the two classes.

This means there were 40 students in total.

Another example:

Altogether, the trip cost us $800.

Here, altogether means in total.

So remember that altogether does not only mean “completely.” It can also mean in total.

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What Does “All Together” Mean?

All together is a two-word phrase. It normally means that people or things are together as a group, in one place, or doing something at the same time.

For example:

The whole family sat all together at dinner.

The family members were sitting as one group.

Another example:

The students sang all together.

They were singing at the same time.

You can also use it when referring to objects:

Put all the documents all together in one folder.

The documents are being kept in one place.

The key idea is togetherness, not totality.

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Altogether vs All Together Sentences

These examples show the difference more clearly.

Altogether	All Together
The movie was altogether different from the book.	The family watched the movie all together.
I altogether disagree with that idea.	We went to the restaurant all together.
The repairs cost altogether $1,000.	The children stood all together.
The result was altogether unexpected.	The players practiced all together.
There were altogether 25 guests.	Everyone arrived all together.

A simple test is to replace the phrase.

If you can replace it with completely, entirely, totally, or in total, use altogether.

If you can replace it with as a group, everyone together, or everything together, use all together.

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When Should I Use “Altogether”?

Use altogether when you mean completely, entirely, or in total.

Completely or Entirely

The situation is altogether different now.

His explanation was altogether convincing.

The idea is altogether unnecessary.

In Total

Altogether, we spent three hours there.

There were altogether 60 tickets available.

The three items cost altogether $75.

A useful question to ask yourself is:

“Do I mean completely or in total?”

If the answer is yes, altogether is probably the correct choice.

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When Should I Use “All Together”?

Use all together when you are talking about people or things being together.

For example:

Let’s take a picture with everyone all together.

The children sat all together in the front row.

We traveled all together as one group.

The books were stacked all together on the desk.

You can often replace all together with as a group or everyone together.

For example:

We went there all together.

means:

We went there as a group.

That makes the meaning easy to recognize.

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“Remove Altogether” or “Remove All Together”?

The correct expression depends on what you mean, but if you mean remove something completely, use:

Remove altogether. ✅

For example:

The company decided to remove the fee altogether.

This means the company removed the fee completely.

Another example:

We should remove that section altogether.

Here, the entire section should be removed.

Remove all together would suggest that multiple people or things are being removed together as a group, which is a different meaning.

Compare:

Remove the old rule altogether.
Remove the three boxes all together.

The first means remove the rule completely. The second means remove the boxes as a group.

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Does “Altogether” Mean Addition?

Not exactly.

Altogether can mean in total, so it can be used when talking about the result of adding amounts or numbers. However, it does not itself mean the mathematical operation of addition.

For example:

The three bills cost altogether $150.

This means the total cost is $150.

You could think of it as:

$50 + $40 + $60 = $150 altogether.

So altogether means in total, not “addition” itself.

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What Is Another Word for “Altogether”?

The best synonym depends on how altogether is being used.

When it means completely, you can use:

• completely
• entirely
• totally
• fully
• wholly

Example:

The plan is altogether unnecessary.

You could say:

The plan is completely unnecessary.

When altogether means in total, alternatives include:

• in total
• overall
• all in all
• collectively
• on the whole

For example:

Altogether, there were 100 guests.

can become:

In total, there were 100 guests.

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What’s Another Way to Say “All Together”?

Depending on the context, all together can be replaced with:

• as a group
• together
• collectively
• in one group
• in one place
• everyone together
• all at once

For example:

The students walked all together.

You could say:

The students walked as a group.

Or:

Everyone walked together.

The best alternative depends on whether you’re emphasizing a group, a location, or simultaneous action.

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How Do You Pronounce “Altogether”?

Altogether is pronounced as one word.

A common pronunciation is approximately:

awl-tuh-GETH-er

The stress falls mainly on the “geth” part.

All together, on the other hand, consists of two words:

all + together

Although they may sound similar when spoken quickly, the spelling and meaning remain different.

The pronunciation itself does not usually help you decide which form to write. Context is more important.

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Is “Altogether” Spelled Correctly?

Yes.

Altogether is a correctly spelled English word.

It is written as one word when it means:

• completely
• entirely
• in total
• overall

The two-word form all together is also correct, but it has a different meaning.

So neither spelling is automatically wrong. The correct choice depends on the meaning you want.

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Is “Altogether” Used in British English?

Yes. Altogether is a standard English word used in British English as well as American English.

For example:

The plan was altogether too expensive.

There were altogether 30 people at the event.

The same distinction between altogether and all together applies in British English.

So this is not mainly a British-versus-American spelling difference. It is a difference in meaning and grammatical use.

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Common Altogether vs All Together Mistakes

These are some mistakes learners often make.

❌ The cost was all together $500.

✅ The cost was altogether $500.

Here, the meaning is in total.

❌ I all together disagree with you.

✅ I altogether disagree with you.

Here, the meaning is completely.

❌ The children were sitting altogether.

✅ The children were sitting all together.

Here, the meaning is that the children were sitting as a group.

❌ Remove the rule all together.

✅ Remove the rule altogether.

Here, the rule should be removed completely.

❌ We went altogether to the wedding.

✅ We went all together to the wedding.

Here, the intended meaning is that everyone went as a group.

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A Simple Trick to Remember the Difference

Use this two-question test:

Does it mean “completely” or “in total”?

Use altogether.

The experience was altogether wonderful.

There were altogether 50 guests.

Does it mean “as a group” or “everyone/everything together”?

Use all together.

The guests arrived all together.

Put the boxes all together.

Think of the space as meaningful:

altogether = total/complete

all together = all + together

This simple distinction works for most everyday sentences.

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Altogether vs All Together: Quick Comparison

Feature	Altogether	All Together
Spelling	One word	Two words
Grammar	Adverb	Phrase
Main meaning	Completely, entirely, or in total	As a group or everyone/everything together
Example	I altogether disagree.	We went all together.
Can mean “completely”?	Yes	No
Can mean “in total”?	Yes	Usually no
Can mean “as a group”?	No	Yes
“Remove ___”	Remove altogether = completely	Remove all together = all as a group
British English	Yes	Yes

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Practice: Altogether or All Together?

Try choosing the correct form in each sentence.

1. The repairs cost ______ $2,000.
2. The students sang ______.
3. I ______ disagree with that decision.
4. We traveled ______ as a family.
5. The two ideas are ______ different.
6. There were ______ 75 people at the event.
7. The children stood ______ for the photograph.
8. The company decided to remove the charge ______.

Answers

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

The pattern is consistent: altogether expresses totality or completeness, while all together describes people or things being together.

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Final Answer: Altogether or All Together?

The difference between altogether and all together becomes much easier once you focus on meaning.

Use altogether when you mean:

• completely
• entirely
• totally
• in total
• overall

For example:

I altogether disagree with the decision.

The three items cost altogether $100.

Use all together when you mean:

• as a group
• everyone together
• everything together
• in one place
• at the same time

For example:

The whole family sat all together.

The students answered all together.

So remember:

Altogether = completely or in total.

All together = all as a group.

Once you understand that difference, choosing the correct form becomes much more natural.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is correct, altogether or all together?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. Altogether means completely, entirely, or in total. All together means as a group or everyone/everything together.

What is meant by “altogether”?

Altogether can mean completely, entirely, totally, or in total, depending on the sentence.

What is the sentence of “altogether”?

Examples include:

I altogether disagree with the proposal.

The tickets cost altogether $200.

The situation was altogether unexpected.

What is another word for “altogether”?

Depending on the meaning, synonyms include completely, entirely, totally, fully, in total, overall, and all in all.

When should I use “altogether”?

Use altogether when you mean completely, entirely, or in total.

When should I use “all together”?

Use all together when people or things are together as a group, in one place, or doing something at the same time.

Which is correct: “remove altogether” or “remove all together”?

Use remove altogether when you mean remove completely.

Remove the old rule altogether.

What’s another way to say “all together”?

Depending on the context, you can say as a group, together, collectively, everyone together, or in one group.

How do you pronounce “altogether” in English?

Altogether is pronounced as one word, approximately awl-tuh-GETH-er, with the main stress on the middle part.

Does altogether mean addition?

No. Altogether can mean in total, which may describe the result of adding amounts, but it does not itself mean the mathematical operation of addition.

Is “altogether” spelled correctly?

Yes. Altogether is correctly spelled as one word when it means completely, entirely, or in total.

Is “altogether” used in British English?

Yes. Altogether is standard in both British and American English.

How do you use “all together”?

Use all together when you mean that people or things are together as a group.

The children sat all together.

We went all together.

What is the difference between altogether and all together?

Altogether means completely, entirely, or in total. All together means as a group or everyone/everything together.

When should I use each?

Ask what you mean. If you mean completely or in total, use altogether. If you mean as a group or together, use all together.

What does “all together” mean?

All together means that all the people or things involved are together, usually as a group, in one place, or at the same time.

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