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Alot of grammar

Started by ChurchSkiz Dec 9, 2010 at 8:49 AM 5 replies 1.4k views

Original Post

Dec 9, 2010 at 8:49 AM

I know we have quite a few grammar nazis here. I've never really gotten irked about people who misuse your you're, there there, alot a lot, etc.

I read this today and laughed my ass off:

The alot monster.

But then I got to thinking, you have allot, which no one should ever use (unless you are trying to sound like an assbag by not using "distribute"). And you have a lot, which is by definition, one LOT. Unless we are referring to land or cardboard shipping boxes, I have never actually heard anyone describe anything by its lot size, or as one lot in general.

For instance, what would you think if someone told you, "I have one lot of pencils?" Or, "I get angry one lot."

There should be a new word, to describe a large amount or frequency of something: alot.

a lot: I have a lot of land (one lot). The lot size of those pencils is 30, and I have a lot of them (30).

alot: I get mad alot (frequently). I have alot of pens (a large amount).

The time is here for alot to achieve its freedom.

Luckless

Dec 9, 2010 at 9:24 AM

Quote:
Original post by ChurchSkiz
allot, which no one should ever use (unless you are trying to sound like an assbag by not using "distribute").

Allot and Distribute aren't completely interchangeable.

If this issue really bothers you, then I suggest you go find a copy of the Oxford English Dictionary. (As in a full version, not one of those little 'pocket' editions or something. The one that actually gives details on word origins and such.) It may help clear things up for you.

Antheus

Dec 9, 2010 at 10:20 AM

Quote:
Original post by ChurchSkiz
There should be a new word, to describe a large amount or frequency of something

There already is one.

"Very many, a large number"

klems

Dec 9, 2010 at 10:22 AM

ChurchSkiz

Dec 9, 2010 at 10:43 AM

Quote:
Original post by Antheus
Quote:
Original post by ChurchSkiz
There should be a new word, to describe a large amount or frequency of something

There already is one.

"Very many, a large number"

It's a phrase not a word, and it's idiomatic. Because it describes one lot of something, then we should agree that saying "one lot" is the same as saying "a lot". Yet saying I have "one lot" of anger towards you would not sound right, because no one uses the word lot in common english. A word is needed that specifically means a large amount.

From another angle, what would you think if I said, "I have a basketful of problems today?" You would know what I meant but it would be idiomatic and not the correct term.

Antheus

Dec 9, 2010 at 10:57 AM

Quote:
Original post by ChurchSkiz

It's a phrase not a word, and it's idiomatic. Because it describes one lot of something, then we should agree that saying "one lot" is the same as saying "a lot".

It's not.

"I have a lot of money" and "I have lots of money" are same. Technically, this is informal use.

"Lot", as auction lot, parking lot or similar is something else. Words have different meanings depending on context.

The "one lot" is not meaningful. There can be "one parking space lot" to choose from "lots of parking lots".

Quote:
A word is needed that specifically means a large amount.

"lots", "plenty", "many", ...

tstrimp

Dec 9, 2010 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Original post by ChurchSkiz
Because it describes one lot of something, then we should agree that saying "one lot" is the same as saying "a lot".

Except you're wrong. a little doesn't mean one little and a few doesn't mean one few. According to Merriam Webster dictionary, one of the definitions of lot is a considerable quantity or extent in which case a lot makes perfect sense and is used correctly.

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