I have a lot of problems with alot

Many years ago, at the tender age of 14, I had an English teacher who made it his mission in life for his students to learn that a lot was actually two words not one. I can't say what led to his over exuberance of this particular subject, but I can say that it did make an impact on me. However, I realize that people still have trouble with these two little words. I see it misused all the time on twitter, facebook, emails, etc. So if this is a problem for you, don't lose heart. You're not alone.


Let's start off with the definition of lot, according to Merriam-Webster:

lot 

noun \ˈlät\

a considerable quantity or extent 

Ex: I have a lot of homework.

The a in front of lot is an article that works as an adjective.  It in no way is part of the word. Just think, you wouldn't say alittle or abunch. You would automatically know that wasn't right. But just as little and bunch are words that measure the quantity of something, so does lot.

If you still have trouble remember, Hyperbole and a Half has a great illustration that is hilarious and informative. 

New design

What do you think of the new look? If you've not stopped by in a while you might notice that things look a little different around here. I have Kristen Brock to thank for that. She's been working with me to help improve LGE's website. The old one was very boring. I was bored with it, and I know anyone looking at the site must have been bored with it also. I've also deleted a bunch of stuff, but that will change shortly. Please bear with me as we make changes to LGE. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Also if you like the design you see here, click on Kristen's button and it will take you to her website. 

Is it toward or towards?

I come across the wrong use of toward/towards every so often. It's one of those words that seems to confuse a lot of people. What's the big deal, and what is the difference? The words mean the same thing. The difference is that toward is the preferred form in America and Canada while towards is preferred in England. This rule applies to other directional words as well--upward, downward, backward, etc. To sum up, if you live in the US, it's best to leave off the -s. If you live outside the US, go ahead and keep the -s.

As a longtime reader and book reviewer, I realize how important the editing process is. Nothing is more distracting to a reader than a book that is riddled with errors. I’ve come across several manuscripts that were good books but they needed a good editor. I have been editing and proofreading on the side for a few years but I thought it’s time to take it to the next level. My love for reading has fueled this desire to help others in their publishing endeavors.

I realize how expensive editing services can be, especially for self-published, independent, and small publishers.  This is who my services are geared toward. My goal is to offer affordable editing services to authors. I want to help authors turn their manuscripts into polished gems. My services include proofreading, researching, light copy editing to heavy copy editing. Please contact me at lookingglassediting@yahoo.com for an estimate. 

• Proofreading service includes: checking for spelling errors, typos, grammar and usage errors, and inconsistencies.
• Light Copy Editing service includes: correcting inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar usage, flag confusing language, flag information that seems incorrect.
• Heavy Copy Editing service includes: correcting errors and inconsistencies in grammar, syntax, and usage, flag overused figures of speech or jargon, check information that seems incorrect, suggest changes or fix discrepancies and conflicts in content.
• Research service includes: helping with research projects.

What you should know:

• I adhere to a strict confidentiality policy. I will not disclose any of your personal or professional information.
• I request a synopsis of your novel and character information before I begin editing.
• I only offer suggestions. I will not attempt to re-write your story.
• I cannot pass along your information to publishers or agents
• I only accept payments via paypal at the moment. I require half up front and the other half upon completion. I understand that this is a big investment. If you would like to see a sample of my work, please send me the first few (1-4) pages of your manuscript.
• I can't guarantee that you'll sign with an agent or get published.

The average novel (70k-90k) takes on average about two weeks to complete. If you need your manuscript in less time. It can be done, but you'll have to pay a rush fee.