To continue to fight the use of "alot" instead of a lot

[JacquesHarlow]

...or is spelling and grammar basically irrelevant in 2024, and I'm fighting the wrong fight?

Disclaimer: I work for a UK company. The majority of our staff are native English speakers. It's actually the non-native English speakers, who learned spelling and grammar the correct way, who write this correctly.

So , when did the phrase "a lot" (as in " a lot of people would refuse a mandated return to office work") become "alot". And I mean, EVERYWHERE.

I have seen senior leaders write "alot" as par for the course. I have seen the majority of posts on Mumsnet with posters writing "alot". When asked about it, they all say "so what?" with the shrug emoji.

Does anyone on here think language is just 'evolving' and we need to get over it? That it really doesn't matter?

Or, what is actually happening, is that in a world of social media posts, fast texting, and auto-correct, everyone is making the same mistake, and then hiding in the forest of mistakes for acceptance?

For example, I don't see anyone writing "alittle". Clearly that hasn't broken through yet. Or "afew".

So why is "alot" acceptable?

Answers below please! AIBU to think this matters? Or AINBU and this is actually irritating?

YANBU winds me up too

YANBU
See also use of loose to mean lose on here, and lead instead of led. You are a cunt if you talk about SPAG at all ever though.

I even heard a teacher on the radio talking about how some problems were being exasperated.

Grammar and spelling are totally irrelevant in 2024 to the vast majority of people. There are so many awful spellings and horrible use of grammar on here in particular. People will come on and say it's irrelevant how people spell and use grammar but to me words are important, and how we use them.

Just think about the ‘alot’ cartoon when anyone makes that mistake. It makes it a lot more bearable. http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html?m=1

Alot
Abit
Afew

I worked in a job where for the majority of staff English wasnt thier first language. They had amazing knowledge and use of the english language. They knew things I'd never even heard of.
Amazing. Also a bit embarrassing for me.

You beat me to it! I love the Alot monster 😁

I love the Alot a lot :D

It drives me mad, and even more so when people say "Well, things change over time". They might, but that doesn't mean you can spell everything any way you like in the meantime.

Do we have a coping mechanism for ect instead of etc please?

I use it deliberately. Alot.

My phone is on your side though because it forgets it and forces me to type it out

How else do you expect things to change? There isn't going to be a new law on mandated spelling. It will change as more and more people change how they spell a word.