Because English is a borrowed language, instances in which words sound the same but have different spellings can not only occur but also occur frequently. And when writers confuse spoken English and written English, errors sprout.
Take, for example, the phrase a lot. And yes, I said phrase because a lot is two words, not one. Yet spoken English provides no distinction between one word or two words. That's part of why understanding the distinction between written English and spoken English is so important.
Observing the example sentence in the graphic above, here is the corrected sentence:
Take, for example, the phrase a lot. And yes, I said phrase because a lot is two words, not one. Yet spoken English provides no distinction between one word or two words. That's part of why understanding the distinction between written English and spoken English is so important.
Observing the example sentence in the graphic above, here is the corrected sentence:
Due to improper manufacture, a lot of the support units failed in low-cycle fatigue.
In this particular example, the writer actually has multiple options for correction. The first appears above. Another option replaces the phrase a lot with another word of phrase that communicates a more formal tone. Since the context of this example sentence is likely professional, the writer should avoid an informal tone.
For example, the writer can choose a word like many. The sentence would then read as follows:
For example, the writer can choose a word like many. The sentence would then read as follows:
Due to improper manufacture, many of the support units failed in low-cycle fatigue.
Do you notice the difference? Alternatively, the writer can specify the exact number of units that failed. This choice would produce a sentence like one of the following:
Due to improper manufacture, seven of the support units failed in low-cycle fatigue.
Due to improper manufacture, seven of the ten support units failed in low-cycle fatigue.
Due to improper manufacture, seven of the ten support units failed in low-cycle fatigue.
None of the suggestions shown for replacing a lot is anymore right or correct than any other. The writer can choose according to personal proclivity.
However, when using the phrase a lot, just remember that two words are a lot more than one. Then you'll get the spelling of that phrase correct if not the usage.
However, when using the phrase a lot, just remember that two words are a lot more than one. Then you'll get the spelling of that phrase correct if not the usage.
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