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26-Jun-2004, 09:22
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Country: Pinas
Posts: 65
Current Location: Mla Native Language: English Member Type: Student or Learner | | Teachers, I need your help What's the difference between "a lot" and "alot" and What's the appropriate use of each?! It's quite confusing. Thanks! | 
26-Jun-2004, 10:15
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,370
| | Nice question, and surprising answer to me: Quote: |
Originally Posted by grammarmudge.cityslide.com Although a lot of people write it, no such word as alot exists in English. Whether it is "a lot of fun" or "I like you a lot," a lot is always two words. The verdict on alright is less clear. The American Heritage Dictionary (click here) states that alright is generally not all right. The Merriam-Webster Collegiate, however, tends to give some approval to alright (click here). We believe, however, that there is still no strong consensus for using, or need to use, alright. | Quote: |
Perhaps this common spelling error began because there does exist in English a word spelled “allot” which is a verb meaning to apportion or grant. The correct form, with “a” and “lot” separated by a space is perhaps not often encountered in print because formal writers usually use other expressions such as “a great deal,” “often,” etc. If you can’t remember the rule, just remind yourself that just as you wouldn’t write “alittle” you shouldn’t write “alot.”
| I've always thought that 'alot' was correct, if UK probably.
Anyway, RL, you have a lot of charm
FRC | 
26-Jun-2004, 11:08
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Country: Pinas
Posts: 65
Current Location: Mla Native Language: English Member Type: Student or Learner | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Francois Nice question, and surprising answer to me: Quote: |
Originally Posted by grammarmudge.cityslide.com Although a lot of people write it, no such word as alot exists in English. Whether it is "a lot of fun" or "I like you a lot," a lot is always two words. The verdict on alright is less clear. The American Heritage Dictionary (click here) states that alright is generally not all right. The Merriam-Webster Collegiate, however, tends to give some approval to alright (click here). We believe, however, that there is still no strong consensus for using, or need to use, alright. | Quote: |
Perhaps this common spelling error began because there does exist in English a word spelled “allot” which is a verb meaning to apportion or grant. The correct form, with “a” and “lot” separated by a space is perhaps not often encountered in print because formal writers usually use other expressions such as “a great deal,” “often,” etc. If you can’t remember the rule, just remind yourself that just as you wouldn’t write “alittle” you shouldn’t write “alot.”
| I've always thought that 'alot' was correct, if UK probably.
Anyway, RL, you have a lot of charm
FRC | Thanks a lot, Francois! :wink: | 
26-Jun-2004, 11:09
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
Posts: 27,475
Current Location: Tokyo Native Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | It's incorrect in the UK, though you will see it used. 'Alright' is generally accepted. I imagine that it will become accepted, but not yet. | 
26-Jun-2004, 11:43
|  | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,989
Current Location: China Native Language: English Member Type: Other | | Here's a trick to remembering that a lot is made up of two words: you can place a whole word between 'a' and 'lot', like this, a whole lot of fun! :D | 
26-Jun-2004, 12:13
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
Posts: 27,475
Current Location: Tokyo Native Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | That's a neat way of making it clear. Thanks. | 
26-Jun-2004, 12:17
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,370
| | Well, I actually had to force myself to sometimes write it in a single word, as I've always found the two-word form more natural. So this won't be a difficult habit to get out of.
FRC | 
26-Jun-2004, 12:55
|  | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,989
Current Location: China Native Language: English Member Type: Other | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Francois Well, I actually had to force myself to sometimes write it in a single word, as I've always found the two-word form more natural. So this won't be a difficult habit to get out of.
FRC | :D I'm curious to know why you felt you had to write a lot as one word in the first place. :D | 
26-Jun-2004, 14:25
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,370
| | I suppose I saw native or fluent speakers use it many times eg. on the internet. It looked to me like one of these BE peculiarities. And as I try to use actively most of the vocabulary I learn...
FRC | 
27-Jun-2004, 03:05
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Country: Pinas
Posts: 65
Current Location: Mla Native Language: English Member Type: Student or Learner | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Here's a trick to remembering that a lot is made up of two words: you can place a whole word between 'a' and 'lot', like this, a whole lot of fun! :D | Thanks, Casiopea! :) |  | | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
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