alright.com
Introduction
Alright - A variant and frequent spelling of all right, attested from 1893. It can also be viewed as a representation of the English language that gives grammarians with too much time on their hands something to complain about. ;-)
I like dictionary dot coms. They're in limited supply these days, which means they're not so easy to acquire. In addition, they're brandable, recognizable and usually come with a certain degree of inherent traffic. This, in turn, tends to make them pretty sought after amongst the usual online startup crowd and business multitude alike.
Anyway, I'm not entirely sure what I'll be doing with this web space, so for the time being, this place-setter will have to suffice while I have a think about it. :)
Welcome to Alright Online
"Alright" versus "all right"
The term "alright" exists in various forms throughout the English language and has done so for much longer than everyone reading this has been around. In fact, people were having the "alright" versus "all right" argument long before you or I existed. That much is accepted, but does a representation's longevity and frequency give it word status?
No one genuinely knows when or how a commonly used representation morphs into an officially certified word. We don't have an internationally sanctioned body adjudicating the process. Some would cite the Grammar Nazis or the Word Police, but those groups are definitely not sanctioned. In fact, no individual or body has the power to give a popular representation the offcial word stamp of approval. Words even precede dictionaries, so dictionary inclusion doesn't dictate word status or lack thereof. If it did, then "alright" would be kind of a word. "Alright" is included in some dictionaries, included cautiously in others and not at all in the rest.
For those seeking a definitive answer; "Alright" is a word for some and is not a word for those who think they're better than everyone else. Seriously, people should do themselves a favor, forget their petty little internet arguments, put on some music (I suggest East 17's, "It's Alright"), invite some people around and get roaring drunk.
Ironically, I use the term "all right" in most instances. My mother was one of those genius freaks who received her first degree at a young age, so "alright" was not "all right" in our household... but she's dead now, so on occasion, I might look over my shoulder, make sure her ghost isn't around and substitute the less formal, "alright," for the synonyms "O.K." or "satisfactory." I couldn't care less what form others use. Anyone who isn't "alright" with that isn't invited to my next party.
I'll leave you with one final thought on the matter: People with good manners, but a lesser grasp of the finer points of grammar are far superior to obnoxious, self-aggrandizing tools with reasonably good grammar. Period.
Disclaimer: If you're a student, worker, etc, who's arrived here because you've come under fire from some Grammar Nazi, tow the party line and use the term, "all right." The expression, "The students were all right," will have ambiguous meaning, but sometimes good communication should be sacrificed for better treatment by superiors with supremacy issues. :)
Notes
If you're using Windows, these pages are best viewed through a Safari Browser with the Quartz Engine running. On a Mac, it shouldn't matter. Under all circumstances, high pixel density (ppi) is preferable. Text-based webpages simply don't look right on any other setup.
This web space has been thrown together from scatch pretty quickly. Over time, I'll endeavor to improve things.