I covered this in a language rant long ago (visit this 2004 post and scroll down a ways), but here's a reminder:
"Every day" is a phrase that functions as an adverb of frequency. The words "every" and "day" are written separately.
"Everyday," on the other hand, is an adjective meaning "normal" or "ordinary," and is written as a compound word.
Examples:
1. I go to work almost every day.
2. Seeing unexploded mines is an everyday occurrence in some countries.
Thank you for your time.
_
THANK GOD! I knew I wasn't the only one this anal.
ReplyDeleteAnality is what we at the Hairy Chasms are all about.
ReplyDeleteKevin
Another grammatical landmark to remember if everyday is one or two words is if a preposition follows it:) Then it's two words, too.
ReplyDeleteSo many nuances to the English language, eh?