Is “Alot” a Word?
Q: Why are so many people using “alot” instead of “a lot”? There’s no such word as “alot,” right? I can’t find any source that says it’s an acceptable word,…
Q: Why are so many people using “alot” instead of “a lot”? There’s no such word as “alot,” right? I can't find any source that says it's an acceptable word, yet it’s in constant use. Can you help me? —Lynn B.
A: You are correct: “alot” is not a legitimate word in the English language and has no place in sentences, paragraphs or advertisements on the side of buses (I've seen this twice!). So my answer is: I have no idea why so many people use it. They must be crazy.
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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).
