Pin It
ImageSMART TALK

by Dr. Ced Riley


ALOT: An esteemed colleague has mentioned this folk belief before but is too steamed to talk coherently about it now, so I'll try to help.

I call it a folk belief: poorly educated people can sincerely believe that alot is a word. Often, they also swear that it's illegal to drive barefooted, that Elvis is still alive, and that a mullet is an attractive hair style. No, no, no, and no.

A lot is always, always two words. It's a lot because it's one lot. You could have two lots, or many.

If you must write a lot as a single word, the Institute for the Linguistically Impaired still offers Handicapped Writing Permits for $25. With this permit comes the right to wear a mullet.

v7i32
Pin It