In defense of "alright"

I use “alright” only as the first word of a sentence followed by a comma.  As such it is an interjection for which all the definitions of “all right” do not apply.  It is used in dialogue implying a southern colloquial dialect.

My characters will, on occasion, begin a sentence with the word "alright", "now", "okay" or "well".  The word serves no grammatical propriety; it’s just the way they talk.

Definition of ALL RIGHT**

1: satisfactory, agreeable<whatever you decide is all right with me>
2: safe, well<he was ill but he's all right now>
3: good, pleasing--often used as a generalized term of approval<an all right guy>

Definition of ALRIGHT**

: all right

Usage Discussion of ALRIGHT**           The one-word spelling alright appeared some 75 years after all right itself had reappeared from a 400-year-long absence. Since the early 20th century some critics have insisted alright is wrong, but it has its defenders and its users. It is less frequent than all right but remains in common use especially in journalistic and business publications. It is quite common in fictional dialogue, and is used occasionally in other writing

** Mirriam-Webster  m-w.com