everyone

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as an indefinite pronoun meaning the same as everybody, is now regularly spelt as one word. This convention is surprisingly recent (20th century); the Old English (up to 1150)D (in 1894) preferred every one (two words), while Fowler (1926) presented a spirited argument in favour of the linked form everyone. As with everybody, everyone takes a singular verb but can be followed by a plural pronoun or possessive in the continuation of the sentence to denote neutrality of gender:

Everyone then looked about them silently, in suspense and expectation—W. H. Mallock, 1877

Everyone was absorbed in their own business—A. Motion, 1989

The classical allegories look like surreal school outings in which everyone got to take their clothes off, and then was sorry—M. Vaizey, 1991.

See agreement ⁴. Unlike every one written as two words (see every ⁴), everyone refers only to people.

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see entries under every man.

IN BRIEF: Including each person, or all people.

Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it. — Confucius, (c. 551-c. 479 BC), Chinese philosopher, founder of Confucianism.

Tutor's tip: Everyone (all the people in a group or in the whole world) in the neighborhood brought every one (each one) of their pets to the picnic.

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sign description: Combined sign: EVERY + ONE The thumb strikes down the back of the other thumb and then the handshape changes to an extended index finger.

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See words rhyming with "everyone."