A LOT VS. ALOT

 

A LOT VS. ALOT

Suprisingly, confusion between the use of the words a lot and alot is commonplace despite one of them not being an actual word.

Here are a few tips to avoid this mistake.

Although you may encounter the word frequently on the internet or through text messaging, alot is not an actual word. You would not find it in a dictionary and it is generally considered a misspelling.

Below are some instances that alot was erroneously used:

“25 years of reform: alot done, more could’ve been done”
The Economic Times

“Vic Mensa: ‘There’s Alot Going On’ [EP Review]”
Guardian Liberty Voice

“The U.S. Bond Market Just Got Alot More Popular, ETF Tips to Win”
Fox Business

On the other hand, a lot is a two-word phrase made up of the indefinite article a and the noun lot, which means “a large amount or quantity, a great deal.”

“Yahoo Shareholders Could Have Done a Lot Worse”
Bloomberg

“CEOs Are Paid A Lot Because CEOs Are Worth A Lot”
Forbes

“Unlike the GOP, Cleveland Wants To Attract A Lot More Immigrants”
The Huffington Post

Two-word phrases with the same construction, such as a house, a boy, and a bird, are never written as ahouse, aboy, and abird so howalot came to be remains a mystery up to this day. A possible explanation for the confusion would be its similarity in spelling and pronounciation to the unrelated word allot.

Allot is a verb used to denote “to give or apportion something to someone as a share or task.”

“Rural police ask govt to allot 254 personnel”
Times of India

“NFL plan to allot $765M concussion settlement to ex-players, families”
USA Today

“Brazil to allot coffee cargoes”
The New York Times

To summarize, there should not be any confusion with the use of a lot and alot. The correct form requires a space–a lot–and the one without space, alot, is not an acceptable word.

ADVICE VS ADVISE

ADVICE VS ADVISE

 Despite the difference in meaning and pronounciation, people often get confused about advice and advise.

First, advice is a noun which means “an opinion or suggestion about what someone should do” or “an official notice concerning a business transaction.” See how advice is used as a noun in each headline:

“Fidelity Launches Automated Investment Advice Service”
Wall Street Journal

“Work Advice: She left for a better gig soon after starting. Is that okay?”
Washington Post

“Springer offers Trump advice on transitioning from TV to politics”
New York Daily News

On the other hand, advise is a verb that simply means “to give advice.” It is important for you to remember that just like any other regular verb ending in –e, advise has the forms advises, advised, and advising.

“Community colleges win grant to change how they advise students”
The Seattle Times

“Airbnb Hires Former Mayors to Advise, Lobby On Cities”
Forbes

“7 Foods With Vitamin D: New Health Guidelines Advise Increasing Daily Intake”
Huffington Post UK

Despite the difference in usage, some writers actually get them mixed up sometimes.

“Here’s what Aamir Khan adviced mommy-to-be Kareena Kapoor Khan”
Times of India

“Mutunga gave advise, but JSC is already faltering in recruitments”
Zipo

“Bangladesh’s communist party advices government to complete investigation, before reaching conclusion”
The Indian Express

You must also remember that advice as a noun referring to opinions or suggestions is an uncountable noun and has no plural form. If you want to refer to more than one advice, you can refer to them aspieces of advice or some advice.

“Nine Pieces of Advice For Launching Your Own Podcast”
Forbes

“Let’s go! Some advice for smart traveling”
Chicago Tribune

Below are some writing mistakes on the plurality of advice:

“Carole and Pippa Middleton panned for silly lifestyle advices”
Daily Star

“Seven of Warren Buffett’s Best Investing Advices”
Bdaily

In summary, remember that if you are referring to the noun for your sentence, you should choose advice and if you are referring to the verb, you should opt for advise.