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"A lot" is a place where you park your car

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erikiksaz

Diamond Member
Hehe, i just can't help but think of this quote whenever someone says something along the lines of, "There are a lot more X than Y." I still have trouble keeping those two words out of my vocab as a combination, but i'm trying. So far i've substituted 'many, more' and a few others that i can't remember right now 😛
 
"A lot" is the correct way to say "alot". "A lot" can mean a parking lot, or it can mean a quantity of something.

-RSI
 
www.dictionary.com:

lot Pronunciation Key (lt)
n.
An object used in making a determination or choice at random: casting lots.

The use of objects in making a determination or choice at random: chosen by lot.
The determination or choice so made.
Something that befalls one because of or as if because of determination by lot.
One's fortune in life; fate.
A number of associated people or things

So "There are a lot more X than Y" = "There are a number of associated people or things more X than Y" is correct.
 
I don't believe there's anything wrong with that usage. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

1 entry found for a lot.


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a lot

adv : to a very great degree or extent; "we enjoyed ourselves very much"; "she was very much interested"; "this would help a great deal" [syn: a good deal, a great deal, much, very much]
 
I guess it's my English teacher. Usage of the words "a lot" in any of our AP essays will net us a dropped grade.
 
So anal doesn't also just refer to the back door? Also I think you are just referring to "alot", not "a lot".
 
A lot is a place where they empty your wallet for the privilege of parking your car there for a few hours. 😛
 
In fact "a lot" as you reffer to it is shorthand for "a parking lot" so it's not really the right way to say "a lot"....if that makes any sense....
 
A lot is fine grammatically.. it's just not looked upon very highly among English teachers because it's a bit rough. There is a myriad of other words and expressions that can be used in its place. I think it's merely looked upon as more.. bourgeois.

My English teacher takes off points for it as well.
 
It's pretty silly for a teacher to take off points for something that is recognized as a legitimate use. Those same teachers would have failed Shakespeare, who had a tendency to make up words if he couldn't find one which suited his purpose. Were I your teacher I would make a point of explaining that it is considered vulgar but if it is still legitimate they're just being sticklers.
 
There is no such word as "alot".

And while it's grammatically correct to say "There are a lot more X than Y," the reason your teacher downgrades you is because saying "a lot" is very informal usage and your teacher feels it is inappropriate for a paper. Like TheVrolok said.
 
"And while it's grammatically correct to say 'There are a lot more X than Y,' the reason your teacher downgrades you is because saying 'a lot' is very informal usage and your teacher feels it is inappropriate for a paper. Like TheVrolok said."

Kranky is right! 🙂 "A lot" is colloquial; so I suspect that is why your teacher objects to its use. However, it is very much acceptable at an informal setting.

On another note: It is quite pathetic witnessing people write "alot" instead of "a lot". What's so difficult to figure out about the two? Maybe they pronouce it that way?🙂

Anyway, I do not think you should get it off your system. It is a very useful "word", but you should endeavour to comply with your teacher's requirement! 😉
 
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