The expressions a lot<\/em> and a lot of<\/em> are tempting to use, since in everyday English they are meaningful.\u00a0 Yet, I ask myself sometimes if I can do better.\u00a0 I know that, in a formal paper, an English professor would\u00a0 expect more precise diction.<\/p>\n One common expression is “There have been a lot of<\/em> problems [with whatever].”\u00a0 What’s a better way to say that?<\/p>\n Option 1:<\/p>\n “There have been numerou<\/em>s problems ….” would probably keep one out of the red ink.<\/p>\n Option 2:<\/p>\n “There have been some particularly difficult<\/em> problems.”<\/p>\n This option reflects the fact that people quite often say a lot of<\/em> problems when they mean just a few<\/em> very troublesome ones.<\/p>\n A second expression frequently used is “I come here a lot<\/em>.”\u00a0 How can it be improved?<\/p>\n Option 1:<\/p>\n I come here often<\/em>.<\/p>\n Option 2:<\/p>\n I come here frequently<\/em>.<\/p>\n Option 3:<\/p>\n Of course, if you can put a number to it, that’s the scientists’ choice:<\/p>\n I come here three times a week<\/em>.<\/p>\n As one moves up the levels, English markers are generally less tolerant of everyday expressions.\u00a0 Using them a little less in speech, one might find them easier to remove from papers as well.<\/p>\n HTH: )<\/p>\n Source:<\/p>\n Hodges, Horner, Webb, et al. Harbrace Handbook for Canadians<\/u>. Scarborough: Nelson Education Ltd., 2003.<\/p>\n