ABCcount

everyday vs. every day

The space is doing the work here. Closed up, it describes something — everyday clothes, everyday problems. Split apart, it tells you how often. Advertising has blurred this badly: "everyday low prices" is technically correct as an adjective, while "we are open everyday" is not, and seeing the second often enough makes it look normal.

everyday

An adjective meaning ordinary, commonplace, or routine. It sits before a noun.

  • These are everyday problems, not emergencies.
  • He wore everyday clothes to the interview.
  • An everyday occurrence in this office.
  • Everyday language, as opposed to technical language.

every day

Two words. An adverbial phrase meaning each day, daily.

  • She checks the figures every day.
  • We meet every day at nine.
  • It rained every day for a fortnight.
  • Every day brings a new version of the file.

Quick way to remember

Try inserting "single" between the two parts. "She checks it every single day" works, so it is two words. "Every single day clothes" is nonsense, so that one is the adjective and closes up. If the word sits in front of a noun and means ordinary, it is one word.