English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
ALREADY or ALL READY?
We are ~all ready~ late for the programme (nonstandard).
We are already late for the programme (standard).
Already is used to mean before, by now or by the time in question.
We were ~already~ before she arrived (nonstandard).
We were all ready before she arrived (standard). The phrase, “all ready” means being entirely ready or prepared.
I was already at the venue before they were all ready to leave the house.
GAB
