I've considered doing this tip umpteen times, then decided not to because so many good guides explaining the difference already exist. However, the reality is that every day and everyday are confused so commonly that there probably is no such thing as too many tips. If you find yourself puzzling over whether your writing needs "every day" or "everyday," you are anything but alone in your confusion.
Treated as separate words, every and day are an adjective and a noun, respectively. However, used together, they function as a two-word adverb. In meaning, the combination is equivalent to "each day." It is related to time and indicates repetition. A person who repeats the same work commute daily might say "I ride the thirty-six bus to Main Street every day." Hearing the term every day in that sentence would cause a listener to automatically understand the route is one that is repeated over and over again.
Everyday, on the other hand, is an adjective. Its meaning is roughly equivalent to "ordinary" or "common." For example, if a woman is dressing simply to run errands and not for a special occasion, she might speak of putting on "her everyday shoes." There is no negative connotation; it is not insulting to call something or someone everyday. In fact, the term often implies positivity; it means "down-to-earth" or "humble," not filled with a false sense of superiority. When Sly and the Family Stone sang of "Everyday People," that's the meaning intended.
The good news is, you don't really have to know whether you want an adjective or an adverb or whether you want to indicate repetition or humility. Instead, treat the number of words as your test:
© 2008 by AnnaLisa Michalski