Published on
June 28, 2024
by
Eoghan Ryan, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
A lot is a phrase meaning “often,” “very much,” or “a large number/amount.” People often combine the two words into “alot,” but this spelling is not listed in the dictionary and should not be used. Always write the phrase as two words.
Allot (with a double “l”) is an unrelated verb that means “distribute” or “assign.” Make sure not to confuse it with “a lot.” The QuillBot grammar check tool will fix this and other common mistakes automatically.
Examples: A lot in a sentence
Examples: Allot in a sentence
I learn a lot of new words by reading.
The organization will allot funds to each department based on their needs.
Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Whoa is an interjection used to express shock or surprise. It was traditionally used to command a horse or person to stop or slow down. Like other interjections, whoa should be avoided in professional communication and academic writing.
The use of the variant spelling woah is more common in UK English than US English, but in both cases, it’s not considered standard. Many dictionaries and other language authorities do not accept this spelling at all.
Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Gist is a noun that typically means “most important idea” or “essence,” but it can also be used to refer to the grounds of a legal action. It’s almost always preceded by the definite article “the” (and can’t be used with the indefinite article “a”).
Jist is a misspelling of the word gist and should not be used. The QuillBot Grammar Checker catches and automatically corrects common mistakes like this.
Examples: Jist or gist in a sentence
I read the summary to get the jistof the novel’s plot
I read the summary to get the gist of the novel’s plot.
Can you give me the jistof the presentation in a few sentences?
Can you give me the gist of the presentation in a few sentences?
Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 12, 2025
The noun label describes a piece of material that identifies the object it’s attached to. It can also be used as a verb to describe the act of affixing a label to an object or assigning a label to a person to put them in a specific category.
“Lable” is a common misspelling and should be avoided. The QuillBot Grammar Checker will fix this and other common mistakes automatically.
Examples: Lable or label in a sentence
Don’t try to lableme!
Don’t try to label me!
Do your parents still lableyour clothes?
Do your parents still label your clothes?
Label is the standard spelling in both US and UK English, but other verb forms are different for US and UK English (e.g., labeled vs labelled).
Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Sense is a noun that means “awareness,” “good judgment,” “particular meaning,” or “vague impression,” or a verb that means “to feel.” It’s also used to refer to the five sensory faculties (smell, touch, taste, hearing, and sight).
“Sence” is a common misspelling and should be avoided. Words with a similar pronunciation are sometimes spelled with a “c” (e.g., “pence”), but others are spelled with an “s” (e.g., dense). Sense belongs to the latter category.
Examples: Sense or sense in a sentence
That doesn’t make any sence to me.
That doesn’t make any sense to me.
My sence of smell has completely gone since my cold.
My sense of smell has completely gone since my cold.
Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Hers is a third-person singular feminine possessive pronoun. It’s sometimes written as “her’s”—with an apostrophe—but this spelling is incorrect.
Possession is typically indicated by adding ’s to a word, but possessive pronouns are an exception to this rule. This means that “her’s” is always incorrect.
This is also true for other possessive pronouns, such as ours and theirs. The QuillBot Grammar Checker will fix this and other common mistakes automatically.
Examples: Hers and her’s in a sentence
I forgot my charger, but maybe I can borrow her’s.
Forty is sometimes misspelled as “fourty”—probably because 4 is spelled as “four”—but “fourty” is not a real word. This is also true when “forty” is used as part of a larger number, such as “forty-two” or “two-hundred-forty.” QuillBot’s grammar check tool will fix this and other common mistakes automatically.
Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Julia Merkus, MA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
Beck and call is the correct spelling of the phrase that’s part of the expression “to be at someone’s beck and call,” which means “to be ready to follow someone’s commands.”
Beckon call is a common misspelling of the phrase and should be avoided.
Examples: Beck and call or beckon call in a sentence
Damien is at the beckon call of his mom.
Damien is at the beck and call of his mom.
You don’t have to be at my beckon call.
You don’t have to be at my beck and call.
The nounbeck is related to the verbbeckon, but they have different meanings and can’t be used as synonyms. Beck is typically only used as part of the expression beck and call.
Published on
June 27, 2024
by
Gina Rancaño, BA
Revised on
March 21, 2025
“Bestest” is an adjective meaning “very best.” Although it’s technically a word, it is considered nonstandard and should therefore be avoided in professional and academic contexts.
However, it’s acceptable to use the word “bestest” in informal settings, such as when you want to affectionately emphasize that someone is your most cherished friend.
Example: Bestest in a sentenceLaura is my bestest friend in the whole wide world.
