Is “Ahold” a Word?
Q: I see people use “ahold” and “a hold,” but I’ve been told that “ahold” isn’t a word. Can you clear this up for me once and for all? –Nina…
Q: I see people use "ahold" and "a hold," but I've been told that "ahold" isn't a word. Can you clear this up for me once and for all? –Nina J.
A: Unlike "alot" which isn't a word, "ahold" is a word recognized by Merriam-Webster, Garner's Modern American Usage and most other writing authorities. For example:
While it's not easy to get ahold of playoff tickets, I know a guy who knows a guy who sold me two. I tried to get ahold of my wife to see if she wanted to go, but she doesn't consider Wrestlemania "the playoffs."
So don't hold back on your use of ahold.
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Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com. Jane’s newest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2018).
