Difference Between Already and All Ready

Already vs All Ready

Many learners, most especially the non native English speakers, easily get confused with the use of the words ‘already’ and ‘all ready.’
Foremost, they are different in the sense that ‘already’ is an adverb, while ‘all ready’ is a phrase that usually functions as an adjective.
Using ‘already’ is seen in this example ‘“ ‘The delivery has already arrived’. In this sentence, ‘already’ denotes something that happened previously (past).
As an adverb, ‘already’ means ‘by this time’, ‘by now’, ‘even now’, ‘by then’, ‘so soon’ or ‘previously’.
Conversely, ‘all ready’ does not seem to require any additional explanation. It simply means ready but with the word ‘all.’ Thus ‘all ready’ means that some event, happening, person or thing is completely prepared.
‘All ready’ is used in this sample sentence ‘the delivery is all ready for shipping.’ In this sense, ‘all ready’ means that the delivery is all prepared. It therefore pertains to something that is still going to take place (future).
In another example, you should use ‘already’ in this sentence ‘“ ‘The players have already taken the kicking practice.’ You can use ‘all ready’ if the sentence was written this way ‘“ ‘The players are all ready to take the kicking practice.’
In some other sense, the adverb ‘already’ can be used in statements with some element of surprise. For example, when your friend will ask you through phone if you are on your way to his or her place and then you suddenly give a remark ‘“ ‘Actually, I’m already here!’
With regard to the history of the word ‘already,’ some experts of the English language say that this adverb actually came from the two-word phrase ‘all ready.’ Its meaning was supposedly the same. But over time, ‘already’ came to have its own meaning different from ‘all ready.’
In terms of formality, many writers denote that ‘all ready’ is used in the informal type of writing. In its more formal notation, it is simply written as ‘ready’ (dropping the word ‘all’).

Summary:

1. ‘Already’ is an adverb, while ‘all ready’ is a phrase that is usually used as an adjective.
2. ‘Already’ is more inclined to events that just happened or has happened previously (past), while ‘all ready’ leans more on events that are still to happen in the not so far future.
3. ‘Already’ can also be used in statements that have a minor element of surprise.
4. ‘All ready’ is used more for informal writing.