All ready VS Already/Unquestionable matter

All ready VS Already

Dear Dr English,

Is "already" another way of spelling "all ready" in the same way as "all right" and "alright"?

Ladda Eamsrisakul

The word "already" comes from "all ready" with the original meaning of "all are ready", but the meaning has changed over time until to this day, when "already" means "previously".

The troupe members are all ready for the performance. (The troupe members are fully prepared for the performance.)

The performance had already started when we reached the theatre. (The performance has started before we were at the theatre.

But it is different with "all right" and "alright"; the latter is regard as a non-standard abbreviation for "all right", and thus should not be used in formal contexts. The joining of the words "all ready" and "already" has been around for a much longer period of time - since the Middle Ages - than that of "all right" and "alright", so there is no problem in using "already" in a formal context. And as I have mentioned in the previous paragraph, "already" has turned into a different word with its own meaning. In short, even though "alright" appears in the works of some well-known authors, it has no place in proper language.

Unquestionable matter

Dear Dr English,

What does "unquestionable", as in "his accounts are unquestionable", means? Please also give some examples.

Wilai Chuennopparut

This group of adjectives ranges from "unquestionable" through "unquestioned" to "unquestioning", each of which has a slightly different meaning.

When we talk about something that is unquestionable it is so obviously true and real that nobody can doubt it.

He fetched a gold medal in every tournament; his ability is unquestionable.

When someone says that something is unquestioned, they mean that it is all agreed and accepted by everybody without any doubt.

A few decades ago the seniority system in many Thai universities was unquestioned.

We can also use "unquestioned" to emphasise that the subject matter is so obvious, great or real that nobody can doubt it or disagree with it.

Who will dare to challenge the emperor's unquestioned power?

And the last word, "unquestioning", we use to describe a person's belief or attitude which they do not doubt to be right. It is a total belief or acceptance.

The junta has demanded unquestioning obedience from the public and will take drastic action against anybody who resists.

By Dr English

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