[Blu€]

I've always been baffled by how many people write "a lot" together... probably a lot of people know that this is mistake but for those who don't...

Please read: (grammar-monster)

Lesson 1:

Alot vs A lot

There is often confusion over the words 'alot', 'a lot' and 'allot'.

The word alot does not exist.
'A lot' means a large extent or to a large extent

Alot
This word does not exist. It is often mistakenly written instead of "a lot".

The term 'a lot' is the opposite of 'a little'. As an noun, 'lot' means a large extent, a large amount or a large number. As an adverb, 'lot' means 'to a great extent' or 'to a great degree'. It nearly always appears in the form 'a lot'.

Mark has a lot of toys.
(Lot is a noun in this example.)

He cheats a lot.
(Lot is an adverb in this example.)

Allot
The verb 'to allot' means 'to give out', 'to apportion', 'to divide' or 'to distribute'. (Other forms of the verb are allots, allotted and allotting.)

The peasant, aka Sharapova, was allotted just 25m2 to grow her monster pumpkins.


Lesson 2:

Your vs You're

Mistaking "you're" for "your" - or vice versa - is a common writing error most people have made at least once. Here's how to know which one to use.

You're is short for you are.
Your shows that something belongs to you or is related to you (e.g., your car, your father).

You're
You're is a contraction of you are. It has no other uses. This is a 100% rule. If you cannot expand it to you are in your sentence, then it is wrong.

Examples:

The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.

Your
The word your sits before another word (usually a noun or a pronoun) to show that it belongs to "you" (e.g., your car, your arm), is of "you" (e.g., your picture, your photograph) or is related to "you" (e.g., your uncle). Your is a possessive adjective. (Other possessive adjectives are: my, your, his, her, its, our and their.)

Examples:

Our expert will answer your questions about pensions and savings.
(questions belonging to you)

Sarah doesn't look like your sister.
(related to you)

Lesson 3:

D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-Y vs Get a grip!

The correct spelling is definitely.

Not definately.

Not definatly.

Not definantly.

Not definetly.

Not definently.

And certainly not defiantly.

The correct spelling is definitely.

[edificio]

I love dis thread alot. Did I due that write?

[égalité]

I think their are allot of people who could definately benefit from this thread. I wish it would of been created sooner.

[Jalil Sherman]

I'm curoius - if a word, phrase or punctuation is used "incorrectly" ALOT can it really be said that it "doesn't exist" a la the OP? Esp where everyone knows what you mean when you use it...

On a side note, another word I confuse ALOT is 'ofcourse'. Help?

[Julian.]

Originally Posted by Blu€

The peasant, aka Sharapova, was allotted just 25m2 to grow her monster pumpkins.

how random

[Xepher]

Some TF posters definitely need to learn how to spell DEFINITELY correctly, not definately.
Same goes to SHOULD HAVE, not should of

[Jalil Sherman]

Originally Posted by Xepher

Some TF posters definitely need to learn how to spell DEFINITELY correctly, not definately.
Same goes to SHOULD HAVE, not should of

Not to mention
Gorl
Heaux
Neaux
Eaux
Leaux
Reaux
Peaux
Chile
Loosing
Talanted
Xepher
etc etc

[Olórin]

Originally Posted by égalité

I think their are allot of people who could definately benefit from this thread. I wish it would of been created sooner.

Seriously though "would of" and "definately" are far more prevalent and irritating than "a lot"; among so-called educated people too.

[Wigglytuff]

ALOT of deez threds about gramm3r dont really help because people willz ignor deez lessons.

besides, english is a living language and continues to evolve. personally i think that alot will soon become acceptable much the same way other conventions that were once seen as incorrect have been accepted. so in other words

suck it up ALOT is here to STAY!!

[McPie]

Originally Posted by Malcolm X

Chile
Loosing

these 2 are normal, ain't it?

[Sean.]

I never new I was doing it wrong, thank goodness you told me before its to late!

[Jalil Sherman]

Originally Posted by McPie

these 2 are normal, ain't it?

not if you're trying to say child and losing lol. Oh and i dont think loosing exists but i may be wrong

[Mary Cherry.]

Apostrophe's.

[Imperfect Angel]

never had any problem with spelling.

[Super Dave]

Originally Posted by Xepher

Some TF posters definitely need to learn how to spell DEFINITELY correctly, not definately.

This kills me more than anything. I even knew someone on another board who spelled it "defiantly", which is something different altogether.