*Alot vs. A Lot vs. Allot | Meaning & Correct Spelling
A lot and allot are pronounced the same, but they have unrelated meanings.
- A lot is used as a pronoun meaning “many” or “a great amount” and an adverb meaning “very much” or “often.”
- Allot is a verb meaning “assign” or “distribute.”
- Alot is sometimes mistakenly used instead of a lot. However, it isn’t a real word and should be avoided.
| Examples: A lot in a sentence | Examples: Allot in a sentence |
|---|---|
| Javier eats a lot of fruit but not many vegetables. | The president decided to allot more funding to national defense. |
| My cat sleeps a lot. | Students should allot an hour every day to independent study. |
How to use a lot in a sentence
A lot can be used as a pronoun meaning “many” or “a large amount.” It can also be used as an adverb meaning “often” or “very much.” When used as a pronoun, a lot is often followed by the preposition “of” and a noun indicating what there is a lot of.
Joanne did well on her exams because she studied a lot.
How to use allot in a sentence
Allot is a verb that refers to the act of assigning or distributing something for a particular purpose.
You should allot more time to learning new skills.
Worksheet: Allot vs. a lot
You can test your understanding of the difference between “allot” and “a lot” with the worksheet below. Fill in either “allot” or “a lot” in each sentence.
- Karen has ______ of clothes she wants to donate.
- I try to ______ at least one evening each week to learning German.
- Jen used to play tennis ______ before she hurt her wrist.
- The local government has ______ space for a town park.
- If you can ______ a day or two to home repair, you’ll be able to fix ______ of these issues.
- Karen has a lot of clothes she wants to donate.
- “A lot” can be used as a pronoun meaning “many” or “a large amount.” It is often followed by the preposition “of” and a noun indicating what there is a lot of.
- I try to allot at least one evening each week to learning German.
- “Allot” is a verb meaning “assign” or “distribute.”
- Jen used to play tennis a lot before she hurt her wrist.
- “A lot” can be used as an adverb meaning “often” or “very much.”
- The local government has allotted space for a town park.
- “Allotted” is the past simple and past participle of the verb “allot.”
- If you can allot a day or two to home repair, you’ll be able to fix a lot of these issues.
- In the first instance, the verb “allot” is correct. In the second instance, the pronoun “a lot” is correct.
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Confused words
Definitions
US vs. UK spellings
Frequently asked questions
- What is a synonym for “a lot”?
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There are numerous synonyms and near synonyms for the various meanings of a lot.
A large number or amount (pronoun) To a great extent (adverb) Often (adverb) Many A great deal Consistently Multiple Considerably Constantly Numerous Greatly Continually Several Significantly Frequently Various Very much Regularly - Is “alot” a word?
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People sometimes write “alot” instead of a lot. However, “alot” is not a real word and should be avoided. A lot is always written as two words.
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Ryan, E. (2023, March 14). *Alot vs. A Lot vs. Allot | Meaning & Correct Spelling. Scribbr. Retrieved November 28, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/common-mistakes/alot-or-a-lot/
