Why do very few people know that "alot" isn't a word????

Question

"A lot"= to a considerable degree or extent

"Allot"= Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): al·lot·ted; al·lot·ting
Etymology: Middle English alotten, from Anglo-French aloter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + lot, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hlot lot
1 : to assign as a share or portion
2 : to distribute by or as if by lot

"Alot" = what uneducated people on Yahoo! Answers (and elsewhere) frequenly type. It is not a word.

So now you know...

Source: m-w.com

and my second grade teacher

um...Curious One, is your abysmal spelling also a conscious decision (like a previous respondent)? Because if it isn't...ugh. You needsta get yerself sum educashun.

Answer 1

You're right.
Unfortunately, it isn't just laziness. Some people actually do think that 'alot' is correct. Ugh!
.

Answer 2

Actually, I think that most people ARE aware that "Alot" is not proper English .. but then neither is "ain't" but it has become accepted enough to make it into the dictionary. English is a living language and as such it is still changing.. perhaps next year "alot" will be in the dictionary and it will have a meaning similar to "a major portion; ie: alot of people like to use words differently online than they do in formal writing"...

Also, some ignorant (though highly educated) people still believe that everyone here at Yahoo! Answers is using a computer keyboard to ask or answer questions. Some people are using cell phones (Cellular Phones for those who don't know what the slang term refers to) and other devices that are not efficient at typing full words.

And, finally.. if you look at the definition of word from the dictionary (Merriam Webster Online: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/word):

1 a : something that is said b plural (1) : TALK, DISCOURSE (2) : the text of a vocal musical composition c : a brief remark or conversation
2 a (1) : a speech sound or series of speech sounds that symbolizes and communicates a meaning usually without being divisible into smaller units capable of independent use (2) : the entire set of linguistic forms produced by combining a single base with various inflectional elements without change in the part of speech elements b (1) : a written or printed character or combination of characters representing a spoken word -- sometimes used with the first letter of a real or pretended taboo word prefixed as an often humorous euphemism (2) : any segment of written or printed discourse ordinarily appearing between spaces or between a space and a punctuation mark c : a number of bytes processed as a unit and conveying a quantum of information in communication and computer work

I think that you will see that "alot" IS a word and it does communicate meaning.

Answer 3

There is a tendency to make it into one word because the writer wishes to emphasize its adverbial sense and avoid its awkwardness as a phrase made up of the indefinite article and a noun.

There is a desire to distinguish between "a lot of land" (a single unit of land) and "alot of land" (much land).

There was a similar development with "again", "away", and "awhile". Languages evolve over time. The collective consensus of the common users will trump the rigidity of the grammarians. Dictionaries just report the language's status.

Answer 4

As an English major I think "a lot" (no pun intended) of people just get used to saying a lot together as well as writing it the same way as they say it. And the ones that know that a lot is two words may simply not care or feel it's that important to focus there attention on. Take care.

Answer 5

I have been trying to break myself of using that as a correct word. If you spell check yourself it will correct you when you use the word "alot". When I type it I know it's not correct but It just sometimes happens. I try to type in correct English, because I can't stand when people don't. I don't even read those questions!

Answer 6

Bcuz alot of peepl r lazy n dum.

(Yes, the words above were misspelled on purpose. A lot of people are too lazy to learn the correct spellings of words, and then can't figure out why no one understands them.)

Answer 7

Where I am from people talk like that. We say "that's alot of stuff". We are not lazy or uneducated it is the way we use slang in this part of the country. You will find in all parts of the country certain slang words that are from a certain region and no one looks down their nose at someone for saying it.

Answer 8

I'm willing to bet it was just a simple misunderstanding, or maybe a teacher just wrote his "a" too close to his "lot" and a series of students every year were learning it that way.

Answer 9

It probably originated with people being too lazy to write the space. Then it became a habit.

Answer 10

i do that a lot but i cant be bothered with proper grammar because i am trying to type quickly...which is an exercise in futility to be honest i am all thumbs sorry if my bad grammar irritates you i bet you it irritates me more.sorry