The difference between "Everyday" and "Every day", and how to use them in sentences

The unpopularity of “every day” in this part of the world has given most English users, especially those on social media, the leeway to abuse its sibling, “everyday”. These words are not just different in meaning, but also in spelling.  “Everyday", which chiefly functions as an adjective, also functions as a noun. As an adjective, "everyday" is used to describe something that happens or is used every day, or something that forms a regular and basic part of your life, so it is not especially interesting or unusual, for example, everyday life, everyday clothes, everyday experience etc. 

In all of these examples, "everyday" functions as an adjective because it describes different nouns (life, clothes and experience). Therefore, it is very wrong to use "every day" when describing a noun. For instance, you don't write "every day experience" instead of "everyday experience".

Sentence examples
i. Don't let the problems of everyday life get you down.

ii. We are just an everyday family.

Although most dictionaries present "everydayness" as the noun form of "everyday", there are reputable online dictionaries where "everyday" adequately functions as a noun. As a noun, "everyday" means "the routine or ordinary day or occasion." 

American Heritage Dictionary

Dictionary.com

English Dictionary

Below is a sentence example from dictionary.com showcasing "everyday" as a noun.

"We use inexpensive plates for everyday."

In the example above, "everyday" means ordinary occasion and is functioning as a noun. Therefore, the sentence simply means that we use plates that are not expensive for ordinary occasion.

Unlike "everyday", "every day" solely functions as an adverb, that is, it qualifies a verb in a sentence. To be precise, it is an adverb of frequency because it tell how often an action is performed.
Examples
i. I wash my clothes every day.

ii. My everyday experience in the university taught me how to read my books every day.

In these examples, it will be wrong to replace "every day" with "everyday" because of the grammatical function of the latter. Whereas "every day" in sentence one tells us how often the speaker washes his clothes, the "every day" in sentence two describes how often the speaker reads his books. And such grammatical function cannot be performed by "everyday". Also, note that the use of "everyday" and "every day" in sentence two is not unintentional or for mere fanciful purpose. It is used to reiterate the fact that "everyday", which is an adjective, describes a noun whereas "every day", which is an adverb, qualifies a verb. Obviously, "everyday" in sentence two is qualifying the noun, experience, as against "every day" which qualifies the verb, read, in the same sentence.

Correct use of "everyday" and "every day"
The examples below show how you can use these words correctly.

i. Don't let your everyday worries make you fail the test.

ii. I don't get it. Do you mean you want to attend the party dressed in your everyday clothes?

iii. I eat rice every day.

iv. I have heard you. I will do what you said, but not every day.

Wrong use of "everyday" and "every day"
On the contrary, the examples below show how these words are used wrongly. Therefore, you should avoid them.

i. Don't let your *every day worries make you fail the test.

ii. This looks like an *every day attire.

iii. I eat rice *everyday.

iv. I will do what you said, but not *everyday.

NECO 2018: June/July Examination timetable

For those sitting for the 2018 (June/July) National Examination Council's (NECO's) examination, below is the timetable.

MONDAY (21/5/2018)

i. Food and Nutrition 1

Time: Council to determine 

ii. Oral French 1 (objectives).

Time: Council to determine

iii. Electrical Installment and Maintenance

Time: Council to determine.

MONDAY (28/5/2018)

i. Computer (Practical)

Time: 10am - 1pm

WEDNESDAY (30/5/2018)

i. Biology (Practical)

Time: 10am - 12noon

THURSDAY (31/5/2018)

i. Biology (Obj and Essay)

Time: 10am - 12:30pm

ii. Government (Obj and Essay)

Time: 2pm - 4:40pm

FRIDAY (1/6/2018)

i. Physical Geography 2 (Obj and Practical)

Time: 10am - 12:30pm

MONDAY (4/6/2018)

i. General Mathematics (Objectives)

Time: 10am - 11:45am

ii. General Mathematics (Essay)

Time: 12:00noon - 2:30pm

TUESDAY (5/6/2018)

i. Physics (Practical)

Time: 10:00am - 12:45pm

ii. Economics (Obj and Essay)

Time: 2:30pm - 5:30pm

WEDNESDAY (6/6/2018)

i. Chemistry (Practical)

Time: 10am - 12noon

ii. Civic Education (Obj and Essay)

Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm

THURSDAY (7/6/2018)

i. English Language (Essay/Objectives)

Time: 10am - 12:45pm

ii. English Language (Oral)

Time: 1pm - 1:45pm

FRIDAY (8/6/2018)

i. Literature-in-English (Obj and prose)

Time: 10am - 12:15pm

MONDAY (11/6/2018)

i. Agric (Practical)

Time: 10am - 11:30am

ii. C.R.S (Obj and Essay)

Time: 2pm - 4:30pm

MONDAY (18/6/2018)

i. Chemistry (Obj and Essay)

Time: 10am - 1:00pm

TUESDAY (19/6/2018)

i. Financial Accounting 3 (Obj)

Time: 10am - 11:20am

ii. Financial Accounting (Theory and Practical.)

Time: 11:20am - 1:50pm

WEDNESDAY (20/6/2018)

i. Physics (Obj and Essay)

Time: 10am - 1pm

ii. Commerce (Obj and Essay)

Time: 2pm - 4:40pm

FRIDAY (22/6/2018)

i. Electrical Installment and Maintenance Work

Time: 10am - 12noon

MONDAY (25/6/2018)

i. Agric Science (Obj and Essay)

Time: 10am - 12:30pm

TUESDAY (26/6/2018)

i. Computer STD 3 & 2 (Obj and Essay)

Time: 10am - 1pm

WEDNESDAY (27/6/2018)

i. Literature-in-English (Drama and Poetry)

Time: 2:30pm - 4:10pm

THURSDAY (28/6/2018)

i. Further Maths 3 (Obj)

Time: 10am - 12noon

ii. Further Maths 2 (Essay)

Time: 12:15pm - 2:45pm

FRIDAY (29/6/2018)

i. Human and Regional Geography 2 (Essay)

Time: 10am - 12noon

MONDAY (2/7/2018)

i. Technical Drawing (Obj and Drawing)

Time: 10am - 12:30pm

TUESDAY (3/7/2018)

i. Food and Nutrition (Obj and Essay)

Time: 10am - 12:30pm

THURSDAY (5/7/2018)

i. French 1 (Comprehension)

Time: 2pm - 3pm

ii. French 2 (Expression)

Time: 3pm - 4:45pm

FRIDAY (6/7/2018)

i. Data Processing (Practical)

Time: 10am - 1pm

MONDAY (9/7/2018)

i. Data Processing 3 & 2 (Obj and Essay)

Time: 2pm - 5pm

ii. Marketing 3 & 2 (Obj and Essay)

Time: 2pm - 4:40pm

YOU CAN VIEW AND DOWNLOAD THE FULL TIMETABLE HERE

I wish you the best!

See why we have numerous Mother's Day celebrations in Nigeria

Mothers are very special people and have won for themselves special spots in the hearts of their children because of their overwhelming roles in parenting. As a result, some countries have set aside special dates for the celebration of these great characters:

1. In Norway, Mother's Day comes on the second Sunday of February.

2. 8th March is International Women’s Day, but Bulgarians and Azerbaijanis mark it as Mother's Day too. In fact, Mothers' Day looks like Valentine’s Day in Azerbaijan.

3. In the United Kingdom (UK), Mother's Day falls on the 4th Sunday of Christian Lent (which usually falls in either March or April), and it is called Mothering Sunday.

4. In Spain, Portugal, and Lithuania, Mother's Day falls on the first Sunday of May.

5. In Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Turkey and the United States of America, Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday of May.

6. A bulk of the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, say shukran to the mummies on the 8th of May.

7. The mothers in Hong Kong, India and Mexico have the 10th day of May.

8. The Polish mothers own May 26.

9. The last Sunday of May is for the French and the Swedes.

10. The Queen of Thailand’s birthday is on the 12th of August. Since she’s the first mother of the country, mothers are celebrated on the same date.

11. In Argentina, Mother's Day falls on the 3rd Sunday of October.

From the above list, it is quite apparent that Nigeria does not have a special date for the celebration of mothers but seems to be the only country that celebrates mothers more than once in a year, aside the International Women's Day. It will also interest you to know that as of when this article was published, Nigeria was on her third Mother's Day celebration, and that prompted the question, "Why does Nigeria have numerous Mother's Day celebrations?"

Well, it is obvious that Nigerians have possessed the Mother's Day of other countries perhaps because of the excess love they have for their mothers, thereby making almost every Sunday of the year "Mother's Day". In other words, although Nigeria does not have a special date for the celebration of mothers, Nigerians identify with other countries of the world in celebrating mothers because of the love they have for these wonderful beings; thus, creating rooms for numerous Mother's Day celebrations. This is a fact that is not known to many Nigerians yet. If given the opportunity, Nigerians will make every Sunday "Mother's Day". LOL! I think these women (our mothers) deserve more. Long live our mothers! 

"Gain weight" vs. "Add weight" in Nigerian English and Standard English

Nigeria is one of the countries of the world where English is used as a second language, and ever since the English language left its primordial base for countries like Nigeria, it hasn't remained unchanged. It has undergone (and still undergoes) all kinds of changes in such countries. English users in these countries have used the language in such a way that some of its standard expressions are no longer intelligible by native speakers of the language because of the odd meanings attached to them – meanings that are different from their standard or actual meanings. One of such expressions is "add weight".

Although the expression "add weight" exists in Standard English, its meaning is quite different when used by Nigerian English speakers. In Nigeria, "add weight" is synonymous to "gain weight". That is why Nigerian English speakers say "You are adding weight" when addressing someone who is getting fatter or heavier as a result of the excess intake of fatty foods. However, as regards this, native English speakers will say "You are gaining weight." "Add weight" is the Nigerian English expression for "gain weight" in Standard English. Other Standard English expressions for "gain weight" are "add pounds" and "put on weight". It seems Nigerian English speakers formed "add weight" on the model of "add pounds".

In the denotative sense, "add weight" is used in Standard English to mean physically increasing the heaviness of something by adding extra stuff on it. For instance, if someone is carrying a half bucket of water, and you pour some more water into it, you’re adding weight to their load.

Metaphorically, "add weight" means "to make stronger". And native English speakers often use it in this sense. If something adds weight to an argument, idea etc., it makes it stronger. For example, "The man's refusal to see his son's corpse adds weight to the argument that he killed his son."

Longman (online) dictionary

It will interest you to know that although "add weight" is used by Nigerians to mean "gain weight", you will never hear any Nigerian say "subtract weight" or "take off weight" to mean "lose weight" probably because they have an adequate knowledge of the meaning of "subtract" or "take off". Well, despite the convincing reason(s) they may have for this, it is important to note that you gain weight since you can lose weight, and not the other way round.

How to politely ask someone to repeat what they just said

As language (or English) users, we've definitely found ourselves in a situation where we were being forced to ask someone to repeat what they just said at least once simply because we didn't really get some of the things they said while conversing with them. At this point, our response has always been a generic or hurried "What?" in order to make the person repeat what he/she has said. Well, if this has already happened to you, it is high time you stopped using "What?" to make someone repeat what they just said. Are you wondering why? Keep reading.

“What?” is considered an uneducated way to ask for something to be repeated. And because I have always wanted you to make your English posh, in this article, I will give you the five most common ways to politely ask someone to repeat what they just said. 

1. I am sorry?

Before now, did you know that "I'm sorry?" is a simple, courteous and an informal way to ask someone to repeat something for you? Yes, It is. Please note that it is important to use the correct intonation, that is, slightly interrogative, to show that you want the speaker to repeat what he/she just said. You mustn't say it like a statement, "I am sorry." Otherwise, the speaker will think that you are apologizing. As a matter of fact, the question mark at the end of the expression is not there for a mere fanciful purpose; it is there to serve its right function. Therefore, you should say the expression correctly. In any case, this is a humble expression as it implies that the fault for not understanding is yours and not the speaker’s.

Example:

Speaker A: Could you please give me your pen?

Speaker B: I am sorry?

Speaker B only wants Speaker A to repeat what he (speaker A) just said.

2. Pardon?

I know you are very much conversant with this. In fact, you use it almost every day. It is another kind but informal way to ask for repetition of something that was just said. Like "I am sorry", it must be pronounced with a slight interrogative intonation. It is slightly classier than "I am sorry" but may be considered a bit old fashioned.

Example:

Speaker A: Have you heard of Tammy's English Blog?

Speaker B: Pardon?

3. Could you say that again?

This is a direct and effective way to request the repetition of what has been said. It is also friendly and formal unlike the previous expressions.

Example:

Speaker A: What is the total cost of the items?

Speaker B: 500, 000 naira.

Speaker A: Could you say that again?

4. Sorry, I didn’t catch that.

This phrase is slightly more articulated and literally means that you have neither caught nor heard what was said, thereby making the speaker to repeat what was said. It is usually used if the problem lies in the hearing of the listener, perhaps due to environmental noises or the speaker's inability to speak audibly.

Example:

Speaker A: I have deposited the sum of five million naira in your account.

Speaker B: Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you be audible, please?

5. I am sorry. I don’t understand.

This phrase is used when the speaker's accent or the way the speaker expresses himself is not clearly understood by the listener. With this expression, the listener makes it clear that he/she does not understand the speaker's English. In this way, instead of repeating the same sentence with the same tone and the same words, the speaker tries to express himself in another way, perhaps speaking slower or using simpler words just to ensure that the listener understands him. 

Example:

Speaker A: Amina has been put in the family way.

Speaker B: I am sorry. I don’t understand. Could you repeat that, please?

Speaker A: Amina is pregnant.

Having said that, it is very important to reiterate that intonation is fundamental as regards the subject matter. Intonation means the rise and fall of the tone of your voice when speaking. When you are speaking English, you risk being impolite if you don’t pay attention to the tone of your voice. In like manner, the aforementioned polite expressions can be considered as impolite expressions if the right intonation is not used when pronouncing them. This can as well alter their actual meanings. Therefore, it is important you always use the right intonation on these expressions. Remember, your language is your bargaining power; make it posh!

See what your birth month says about your s3x life

According to cosmopolitan.com, your birth month has a way of controlling your s3x life. I think such assertion is near correct since my birth month, April, correctly explains my s3x life. Please, use the comment box to state the authenticity of this article after reading through.

January: Those born in January have one of the kinkiest signs. You wouldn't think so, but they're right up there with November birthdays in terms of being willing to experiment in bed. They give in to unconventional s3xual preferences or behaviour (kinky s3x) and other s3xual practices.

February: February-born people are adventurers. They have a lot of passion, but you have to really work for it. Their heads are focused in causes and the bigger picture, but you really have to try to get them to connect emotionally. It's not that you can't connect emotionally, but you better be prepared to work for it.

March: March-born people love spending time in bed. S3x for them is very intense and bonded because they give their partner everything they have and often take s3x to new heights of spirituality.

April: April-born people are very independent, so when they're involved with someone, they give their all. S3x with an April-born person is hot, intense, and very passionate because they're ruled by Mars. Their passion is huge, but they often get tired of people quickly.

May: May-born people want s3x to be comfortable and sensual and warm. They love the act of s3x itself. They want to make love on satin sheets in a gorgeously decorated room or not at all.

June: June-born people will want to try every position under the sun because they want to know everything about everything. They're not as intense as February-born people, but they're still intense. If you want someone to talk dirty to you, they've got you covered.

July: S3x with July-born people has to have a deep emotional component. They have to feel safe with someone and once they do, they will do anything to please their partner. They love to nurture people and make sure they're satisfied and have everything they need.

August: August-born people can either be extremely selfish or extremely generous. They'll want to make sure their partner has everything. They hate being told what to do in bed, and their egos are easily bruised.

September: They're passionate but are always in control of their emotions, so when it comes to s3x, it'll take a lot to really get them to let go and have a great orgasm. They won't immediately throw themselves into s3x, but if they have an emotional component there, there's nothing they won't do.

October: They want to paint a romantic, passionate picture and tell you how it'll be and how you'll feel. Then once they tell you, they want to go very slow and make the experience last. They'll really take their time and linger and romance someone. October-born people might lack passion, but they make up for that with spot-on courting that leads up to romantic s3x.

November: November-born people are the epitome of what passionate s3x is. They need to possess their partners and want their partners to possess them and will make that happen. They will try every s3x act imaginable just to say they've done it.

December: December-born people are very creative in bed. They love to create stories and role-play with partners. It's often hard to connect to them in a deeper way, but they'll make s3x fun every single time.

Which is your birth month?