• Versus
  • Remind vs Remember
  • Every vs All
  • Talk vs Speak
  • Tell vs Say
  • Make vs Do
  • Listen vs Hear
  • For vs To

Every versus All

We use both every and all to describe a total number of something. Every describes each member of a complete group. All describes a complete group.

  • The food was sent to all students.
  • The food was sent to every student.

In some situations we use all on its own. We can also use everyone/everybody/everything.

  • The bingo event is at the park. It starts at 4 and all are welcome.
  • The bingo event is at the park. It starts at 4 and everyone is welcome.

We can use every to focus on each individual member.

Compare:

  • All attendees need to silence their phones. (describes the entire group)
  • Every attendee needs to silence their phones. (describes the individuals )

We use every with singular entitites and all with uncountable and plural nouns

  • Every payment is due today.
  • All payments are due today.

Hint! Remember that all is usually used with plural nouns (all students) and every is usually used with singular nouns (every car).

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