A lot/alot (was: Survivor)

[Joanne Collins]

>I suspect the reason that people write it as one word is because it's
>processed cognitively as one unit, rather than as a separable indefinite
>article plus a noun.  

Okay. And I would process it as those things?

>I'd be much happier (and
>usually do, until I fix it) writing 'alright', like 'already'.  

That's one I do have problems with. I think that one might be one of those
things in which there are also transatlantic differences, though I could be
wrong.

>'Atall'
>might look weird, but it would make more sense (to me, at least).

To me it's just two words that shouldn't be pushed together pushed together.

>I wouldn't blame teachers overmuch.  

Just the first thing that came to mind. I wasn't really blaming anyone.

>I was taught correctly, but
>*couldn't* seem to learn it until it finally 'sunk in' *why* the rule
>was as it was.  

I know what you mean. And I still have my own grammar problems, trust me :).

>In language acquisition in general, correction plays a
>negligible rôle.

True.

>--jen, who thinks that the Latin system where you can join together or
>leave separate, as you like, many of these types of phrases is much more
>sensible... :)

Sounds about right to me. The Latins were pretty sensible people, I think.

Joanne.

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