Allot vs. A Lot, Allowed vs. Aloud,
All ready vs. Already, All right vs. Alright, Altar vs. Alter, All together vs. Altogether
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Homonyms often cause confusion. Here are a few tricky ones, mostly all vs. al- words, clarified for you.
Allot vs. A Lot The word allot means "to parcel out."
Example: The company will allot each of us a cell phone.
The expression a lot means "many" or "much."
Examples:
We had a lot of fun.
A lot of people showed up for the concert.
Note that even though you may see alot written by a lot of people, there is no such word.
Allowed vs. Aloud Allowed means "gave permission to."
Example: You will be allowed to enter the theater in five minutes.
Aloud means "said out loud; spoken."
Example: She read her work aloud at the poetry slam.
All ready vs. Already These two words may sound alike when you say them, but they have distinct meanings.
All ready means "everything or everyone is now ready"
Example: We are all ready to go.
Already means "previously" or "earlier than expected."
Examples:
Is summer over already? (earlier than expected)
I did the dishes already. (previously)
All right vs. Alright The word alright is a casual form of the phrase all right; however, alright is not considered a correct spelling in formal writing.
Altar vs. Alter
An altar is a pedestal, usually of a religious kind.
Example: They exchanged wedding vows at the altar of the church.
Alter means "to change."
Example: Please don’t alter your plans.
All together vs. Altogether All together, two words, means "in a group."
Examples:
We are all together in the photo.
It is wonderful to be all together to celebrate your birthday.
Altogether is an adverb meaning "entirely, completely, everything included."
Examples:
It is not altogether his fault. (entirely)
We had an altogether wonderful day. (completely)
Altogether, the groceries cost thirty dollars. (everything included)
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Pop Quiz
1. We had to altar/alter our wedding plans because of the unseasonable rain.
2. I’m not sure that your conclusion is all together/altogether correct.
3. We were all together/altogether for our family reunion.
4. When will you be all ready/already to go to the party?
5. Are you all ready/already dressed to go to the party?
6. I like chocolate ice cream a lot/allot/alot.
7. Does that university a lot/allot/alot many scholarships?
8. Are you allowed/aloud to go off campus during lunch?
9. If you practice your speech allowed/aloud, you will memorize it more easily.
10. Tom said he felt all right/alright after the car accident.
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Wordplay
A Little Homonym Poem For You
A doctor fell into the well
And broke his collar bone.
This should teach the doctor to tend the sick
And leave the well alone!
Pop Quiz Answers
1. We had to alter our wedding plans because of the unseasonable rain.
2. I’m not sure that your conclusion is altogether correct.
3. We were all together for our family reunion.
4. When will you be all ready to go to the party?
5. Are you already dressed to go to the party?
6. I like chocolate ice cream a lot.
7. Does that university allot many scholarships?
8. Are you allowed to go off campus during lunch?
9. If you practice your speech aloud, you will memorize it more easily.
10. Tom said he felt all right after the car accident.
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