You want a gimmick to spell "alot" as two words? My students try to insert something between the syllables of this type of expression. If they can insert anything that makes sense, they have two words. If they can't, it's one. For example: a whole lot all possible ways (regarding ways) al???ways (nothing fits regarding time) all completely ready (does not make sense when already is used regarding time, as He's already finished. This gimmick is only a start that needs polishing because it does not work perfectly, sometimes/some of the times, but it's (it certainly is) close and helps a whole lot. Can anyone polish it for me? Carolyn Hartnett Professor Emeritus College of the Mainland, Texas City, Texas [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]