Is it alot or or is it a lot?

Originally Posted by cheylink

Makin a big deal about a whole lotta nottin!

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YEP!!! There are so many more important things to worry about, than just how to spell a word.

Originally Posted by crittermom

I say alot all the time!!! To me even though it may not be the correct word, it looks better and it's just the norm for me.If I am doing wrong or improper English, then so be it.
Just like there is NOT suppose to be the word AINT, I use it all the time.

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I use plenty of words that aren't 'proper' English but if I want to say them I will

i usually write "a lot"

I always use alot, although it could be wrong..but the other way looks weird to me

I type a lot.

But I also type the way I talk, that is why I might type fixin, or hafta or gonna or other words like that. That is the way that I talk too.

I usually put a lot it looks better to me.

I try to check my spelling, but I also use alot. If I have something professional to prepare, I make sure it's correct. While it does amaze me to see the number of misspelled words on this site, I'm usually more interested in what the person is trying to say rather than being the grammar police. And what about IMO, :censor::censor::censor:, DH, LMAO? It's not like those are actually words, is it?

Originally Posted by sarahp

There's no such word as "alot", and your college professor is an idiot for saying "common usage makes something correct" - that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!!

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AMEN, SISTER! If "common usage" made something correct, we'd have to spell nuclear "nucular" and athlete "athalete" and realtor "realator"... it's nonsense.

I've seen in some dictionaries the past few years where their "usage panels" are basically saying, "Okay, let's give up and accept this, everybody's saying it anyway." AUGH!

But let me add, too, that I completely agree with LSU Lover that the way we type informally, to friends, doesn't need to conform to rules at all. Too many rules would take the personality out of our writing in this context, and we need all the expressiveness we can manage, when all we have are 26 letters to work with.

A lot is two words. Common usage can eventually cause a word to be added to a language, but this definitely doesn't happen with every word.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Well, I think its a lot, but when I was a little kid I thought LMNO was one letter in the alphabet.

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Oh, yes, my brother also believed that. He pronounced it "el-a-men-er".

Originally Posted by Cinder

IWhile it does amaze me to see the number of misspelled words on this site, I'm usually more interested in what the person is trying to say rather than being the grammar police.

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I'm surprised at the spelling mistakes as well. If someone is using a recent version of Firefox there is absolutely no reason for the mistakes. My spelling is awful, I'll admit it... the spell check in the browser really helps.
I try to use proper grammar and less slang. I have too many online friends from different countries that, while their english is good, slang can be confusing to.

Oddly, I spell aluminium with the second i, it looks weird as aluminum - the american spelling.

Originally Posted by Cinder

I try to check my spelling, but I also use alot. If I have something professional to prepare, I make sure it's correct. While it does amaze me to see the number of misspelled words on this site, I'm usually more interested in what the person is trying to say rather than being the grammar police. And what about IMO, :censor::censor::censor:, DH, LMAO? It's not like those are actually words, is it?

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As much as I'm the self-appointed "grammar/spelling police" I think that in certain circumstances (ie. here or informal emails to friends) it's okay to use slang terms or abbreviations to add character to your text. So if it's something you'd normally use in your everyday language (or if it's something that you feel best conveys your message and who you are) then go right ahead. This police-woman will put away her badge. But I feel that in the case of "a lot" it's simply a spelling mistake rather than a way to communicate your message, and therefore it's something that should be avoided. Just my (obsessively picky) opinion though!

lol well a lot maybe right, but if you write alot people still know it,
so its also right alot of times

I use alot because a lot doesn't look right to me.

i switch between the 2 I think, but mostly I use alot alot of the time

2 words! A lot.

Originally Posted by lunasmom

A lot. I had an English teacher that would heavily mark me down if I used "alot". I've remembered ever since.

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Same here. I had one particularly anal-retentive English teacher who would ridicule people who spelled it "alot." (He wasn't a nice man, but he was a good teacher and I learned a lot from him.) He had a loooong list of commonly misspelled words (or slang words) that he would belittle you for using.

Originally Posted by Pekoe & Nigel

As much as I'm the self-appointed "grammar/spelling police" I think that in certain circumstances (ie. here or informal emails to friends) it's okay to use slang terms or abbreviations to add character to your text. So if it's something you'd normally use in your everyday language (or if it's something that you feel best conveys your message and who you are) then go right ahead. This police-woman will put away her badge.

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Thanks for not taking that the wrong way. I appreciate good spelling too, but unless the mistakes occur on a document our company is putting out...me no care. But at work I have been known to argue usage and insist on having things reprinted.

Originally Posted by katiemae1277

i switch between the 2 I think, but mostly I use alot alot of the time

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Good one, Katie. I think a lot of us use alot casually on forums....

Both depending on how you use it.

A. That's alot of stuff you have in the garage.

B. A lot was for sale in today's paper.

Yes, it is two words, a lot. Alot isn't even a word as previously stated by many here.