Grammar 101: Youse, Yous, You's, Alot, Lot's
Grammar101: Youse, Yous, You's, Alot, Lot's
Previously:
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/feeling-youre-...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-it...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-yo...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-th...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-tw...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-lo...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-ad...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar-101-i-...
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/grammar101-lie...
A Few Simple Rules Are All You Need
There's no doubt that, in its entirety, English grammar is complex, especially for someone learning English as a second language.
But...
If you're a native English speaker and just want to avoid common grammatical errors in your writing (such as blog posts on your website) there are only a handful of rules that you need to memorize.
So this series of posts is for those who'd like to ditch the Grammarly crutch and just know what's right and what's not.
Here's the ninth one:
Youse, Yous, You's, Alot, Lot's
This may be the simplest rule ever.
None of these are real words. Don't use them!
Well, there is one Biblical exception. Lot and his family were escaping the destruction of Sodom when Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
But unless you are specifically referring to Lot's wife (or some other possessive form of the word "lot"), the word "lot's" doesn't exist.
Youse, Yous and You's
The word "you" is already plural, though it is also used as the singular, replacing the now archaic forms of "thee" and "thou".
Any attempt to somehow make it "more plural", as in these three examples, is simply wrong. Don't do it.
Examples of correct usage are "I want all you people wearing red shirts to stand over there" and "Look at the two of you. Don't you make a lovely couple."
I need to mention a related term that's frequently used in the Southern States of the U.S. (but nowhere else) and that's "you all", normally abbreviated to "y'all" (but not ya'all, that's just plain wrong). Southerners use "y'all" to refer to either one person or a small group. I asked a Texan friend what they used for a large group and she said "all y'all". I don't think she was joking, but perhaps some of my Southern readers might like to confirm that.
Alot
There's not a lot I can say about this, except that it's two separate words incorrectly joined together. "That's a lot of candy" would be correct usage.
Lot's
This is a common misusage of "lots". The apostrophe is not just unnecessary, but incorrect.
"There are lots of ways to complete this task" and "Lots of people are coming to the party" are examples of correct usage.
Recent Comments
87
Hi, Phil
I just have to chime in here with an amusing story. First, I'll say that everything you wrote (and write) in your post(s) is absolutely correct.
However, I grew up in a very Italian neighborhood with a very, very Italian family. Everyone said "youse" as the plural of you. Many grew up with English as their native language, but they were nurtured with that kind of grammar.
My uncle would say things like, "WTF, while I was snoozing off, youse ate all the shrimps!" Imagine being at a party with about 50 or 60 people (family and friends) and hearing virtually everyone speak that way.
Still, it was a lot of fun! It's funny how, sometimes, the most important people in your life can make you a little crazy.
When I first opened my medical practice in Rhode Island, my family sent me about a zillion Italian patients, who sent all their Italian friends. They all said "youse," well, 95% of them.
I remember correcting one patient, "Ugo," who asked me if I even went to school or if I was an "impostore." I got a little upset and gave him a copy of my CV. It didn't matter; he still thought I was an idiot!
If you're wondering, don't worry, I don't say "youse." 😊
I hope I made you laugh a bit,
Frank
You certainly did, Frank. It's true that you will get a large group of people who speak a certain way because everyone else in their group does. I discovered when I was working a contract that many people in NSW (but not in other states) say "everythink" and "somethink". I often wondered what they thought when I said "everything" and "something". Did they think I was wrong or did they simply not notice?
Great advice, Phil.
Perfect, in fact!
It is a long time since I heard or read Youse, Yous or You's spoken. However, I have often heard You Lot spoken when referring to a group of people!
Oh, and how Grammarly has hindered me in creating this short comment. They were not all happy and let me know all about it!!
Look, it could have been me. Maybe I forgot to click the reply button. All I said was that it was a bit like trying to quote a miss-spelt word in order to make a point and spell corrector changing it back to the correct one.
All good, Phil. I wasn't concerned. I was just being light-hearted about it! Thanks for your follow-up.
Or even further back, Norm Gallagher. I remember him telling a television interviewer "I don't care what youse fink".
Yes forgot about him not sure if Norman Gunston said anything like that but wouldn't be surprised if he did.
I rather liked the little Aussie bleeder. I remember him interviewing an American actress and explaining the bits of tissue stuck to his face. She asked why he didn't use an electric razor. He looked bewildered as he replied "I do."
I remember that too she (Sally Struthers) was totally lost not just with the bits of tissue on his face but also with the way he spoke to her. She couldn't stop laughing so funny to watch then again he was so funny to watch anyone.
I think at one stage she asked him if he is a real journalist.
It's one of those interviews you just can't forget and you are welcome.
Guess soon it will be time for you to read your book and chill out a bit before bedtime.
I will be heading off early too have to go down the south coast to see my cousin and Uncle who just came out of hospital he found he has cancer of the kidney and who's knows how long he has to down as his health has been deteriorating so maybe my last visit to see him. Hope not but who knows.
Catch you later will head off soon
Excellent advice.
Although we do joke about the use of Youse in Australia. It used to be used often.
Now it's used on purpose to get a laugh.
I.e. "What are youse doin'?"
Lily 😆🤣
Even so, I think most people would equate its use with "uneducated" so it's a good one to avoid.
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I grew up in and around Washington, D.C., and I remember hearing people say "all y'all." Not my family members, though. We had more of an Eastern manner of speech than a Southern one.
As a teenager, I would write a term you haven't mentioned here. I used it informally, like in a note I might leave my mother, that word is lotsa, as in "I got lotsa groceries in my bike basket." Come to think of it, I still use it sometimes in emails to my sister.
Absolutely, Rosana. That's all part of informal speech. I use "gotta" instead of "got to" in the same way. Gotta go now.
Gotta believe you!
Lotsa stuff to get done!