everyday
The adjective "everyday" means "happening every day" and, perhaps because a routine can be perceived as relatively uninteresting, "ordinary." Remember that "everyday" is one word: it is an adjective used to describe a noun and answer the question "How is it?" It is "ordinary"; it is "commonplace"; it is "everyday."
The adverb phrase "every day" means "each day." It answers the question "When does it happen?" It happens "every day."
A common error in writing is the use of the adjective "everyday" in place of the adverb phrase "every day" to answer the question "When?"
- I walk my dog everyday.
This is an incorrect use of an adjective in place of an adverb.
If you are describing when something happens, remember that the adverb phrase contains two words: "every" and "day." Consider mentally inserting "single" between the two words to force yourself to remember that "every day" is not one word.
- I walk my dog every single day.
- I walk my dog every day.
"Everyday People" is a song about racial and social equality that uses the adjective "everyday" to demonstrate that while we all are different, we are also all ordinary; essentially, we are all the same. "Everyday People" was a Billboard number-one single in 1969; it was played on the radio every day.
"Everyday People" by Sly & the Family Stone
Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong
My own beliefs are in my song
The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I'm in
I am everyday people, yeah yeah
There is a blue one who can't accept the green one
For living with a fat one trying to be a skinny one
And different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo-bee
Oh sha sha - we got to live together
I am no better and neither are you
We are the same whatever we do
You love me you hate me you know me and then
You can't figure out the bag l'm in
I am everyday people, yeah yeah
There is a long hair that doesn't like the short hair
For bein' such a rich one that will not help the poor one
And different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo-bee
Oh sha sha - we got to live together
There is a yellow one that won't accept the black one
That won't accept the red one that won't accept the white one
And different strokes for different folks
Oh sha sha-
I am everyday people.© 1968 Daly City Music
