Everything vs. Every thing
Is there a difference in meaning when you use everything or every thing? There is definitely a difference between everyone and every one, so you might think that the same logic would hold true-that there is a definite difference between everything and every thing. But, let's take a closer look to see.
Everything is a pronoun that refers to all things-all things or people in the group of reference.
1. Everything in the store must be sold because we are going out of business.
2. When my friend Paul's house burned down, their family lost everything.
3. Do you think that Mom really means that I have to eat everything on my plate?
Every thing is a noun phrase-thing is a noun and every is an adjective. It is a phrase that means every thing-all things. So, technically, it means the exact same thing as everything.
1. Every thing in the store must be sold because we are going out of business.
2. When my friend Paul's house burned down, their family lost every thing.
3. Do you think that Mom really means that I have to eat every thing on my plate?
Typically, writers today use everything versus every thing. However, one might choose to use the noun phrase when there is a need to emphasize the separateness of the "things" referred to. Note these sentences:
1. Every single thing in the store must be sold because we are going out of business.
2. Do you think that Mom really means that I have to eat every last thing on my plate?
So, in summary, you can use everything and every thing interchangeably, but most writing today uses everything. The exception is when the writer wants to emphases the separateness of the things to which he/she is referring.
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