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The meaning of lot is too general in context and can understood to denote many types of nouns e.g. objects. But allot is very specific in context allot: 1 : to assign as a share or portion . Where allot specifically refers to a quanity of space, time, or money. There is no room for misinterperatation. I prefer to use allot, but if you think A Lot is more to you liking that is ok with me. Neither is incorrect, but I find allot to be more contextually correct in regards to the topic of discussion.

Well, I think one of us is misunderstanding the usage of allot -- my understanding is that it always has something to do with "giving over", "distributing", or "assigning" something, whereas "a lot" has to do simply with providing a (very) general sense of quantity (i.e. "a lot" as opposed to "a little" works... "allot" as oppposed to "a little" does not). If you can show me a generally accepted definition of "allot" that does not include the sense of "assigning" or "giving", etc., then I will gladly acquiesce. However, given my current understanding of those two terms, "allot" is not proper usage in this context, and it is not a matter of choice as to which to use (unless you don't care about the actual meaning of the words you use).

I'd never heard of allot being used in the context CE5_Agent mentions, and my dictionary concurs with SineMacula. Still, dictionaries are always playing catch-up - it wasn't that many years ago when "internet" wasn't in the dictionary!

Another way to explain it is to look at the kind of word each is:

allot is a verb
allotment is the noun form of the verb allot

(a) lot is a noun

Also, allot does not in itself refer to quantity at all - in "allot 10 minutes for the speech", the word "allot" is used as "to give" or "to set aside" or "to grant" -- the "10 minutes" is what refers to quantity. I could just as easily say "allot a lot extra time for the speech" -- "a lot" is the quantity, "allot" is what is being done with that quantity.

What may make this a little confusing is that "a lot" is a relative quantity rather than a specific quantity, and often when something is "alloted" it is in a specific amount (though not necessarily). The primary similarities between "a lot" and "allot" are the fact that they use the same letters and sound the same... and that "a lot" is a quantity (even if relative) and "allot" can involve a quantity.

Sorry for going on about this - word use, syntax, context, etc. is one of my "pet peeves" - and it gets triggered a lot  online.
then/than
your/you're
their/they're/there
its/it's
Maybe I need to take a pill?!? 

I'm an editor. It's what I'm paid to do.

SineMacula is correct.

Well if A Lot is a noun then the Sentence "A Lot can happen in two weeks" is grammatically incorrect. Nouns are persons, places, or things, nouns don't happen, and it's not even a complete sentance "A Lot of what can happen in two weeks?" Try replacing your word Lot with any other noun and it makes nonsense, or better yet lots of what can happen? How about "A Lot of debate happened over the past two weeks." But it still doesn't look right to me.

You don't even need to use 'A' to start the sentance. Lots of discussion about the Mambo project happened over the last two weeks. Now I have allot of work to complete.

er this is a troll right?? 

Anyway CE5 that last sentence is certainly wrong

To take this thread to a new high can I propose a slight mod to the Forum Rules

Anyone caught abusing apostrophes should be forced to install 4.5.3 beta
Anyone abusing the simple word "its" should be forced to support 4.5.3 beta

just a thought ........and a mischievous one at that

This ought to be in the humour zone! "A lot" isn't a noun - they are two separate words. Spot the space between them. I'd explain but I'm laughing too much.

This is getting quite funny

I know its, its is the possesive form and it's is the equivalent of 'it is', just the oppsite of what people assume that by using an apstrophe means possesive.

But to end this discusson on my own behalf if there are no further objections. I would like to present my closing argument quoting Webster's Dictionary: a lot 1 : to a considerable degree or extent 2 : OFTEN, FREQUENTLY ; the use of 'a lot' requires a reference to what you are refering to; not to be by itself.

Shall I move it to the humor or the humour section? lol

Notice the "()" around "a" where I say "(a) lot" is a noun -- the fact that the word "a" (and it is a word in this context, not just a letter) precedes "lot" indicates that "lot" is a noun. The use of "a lot" may be considered somewhat informal, but it is still correct usage, whereas the use of "allot" in this context doesn't make sense at all given the definition of the word. So while it may be more precise, I suppose, to say that "a lot" is a noun phrase, "allot" is still a verb that does not mean quantity. "Allotment" may refer to quantity, but wouldn't make sense in the sentence in question.

Also, saying "A lot has happened..." is in fact grammatically correct. The confusion may arise because it's being used as more of a noun modifier, where the noun is implied rather than stated, thus "a lot" stands in place of the implied noun. Now, what noun is implied in the statement "A lot has happened over the last two weeks"? One might say that the implied noun is "crap" - thus the sentence becomes "A lot of crap has happened over the last two weeks". Or maybe it's "discussion" - "A lot of discussion has happened over the last two weeks." Either way, it is indeed a noun that is happening (the noun, without modifier, being "crap" or "discussion" -- or choose whatever noun you think "happened" over the last two weeks), and "a lot" is a part of the noun phrase.

brad wrote:Shall I move it to the humor or the humour section? lol

Go for it!

you should of (oh, wait) you should've moved it a long time ago. 

Thanks guys for really cheering me up today and Brad you are right, this topic way to far. I plan to stay away from off the topic non-Mambo related discussions, it has been fun but this is becomming too much of a distraction.

ref. apostrophes

I say a grocery store selling banana's yesterday

If any one can figure out what CE5 stands for I promise to admit full error on my usage of a lot in this discussion. By the way which do you prefer login or logon

Speaking of grocery stores... I was amazed to see the sign in Whole Foods that says "10 items or fewer"! 

Hey CE5 -- thanks for this discussion! I've now made it to "Jr. Member"!!