Oh my word Allocate, Allot, A lot

The Kapurs had a lot of assets but as Mr & Mrs Kapur grew older they decided to allot their immovable properties of land and buildings equally among their three children but when it came to allocate their cash the eldest child demanded more money than his siblings.

Allocate and allot are almost interchangeable words because both refers to giving out or assigning or portioning out something to someone. Many dictionaries term them as synonyms but there is subtle difference. Allocate refers to money and space given out for a special purpose, to set aside something for purpose. Allot implies to giving time, duties and money to someone or something.

Allocate refers to dividing a sum of money and giving it to someone, granting funds, assigning or earmarking; distributing land or commodity in various ways. Derivatives of allocate are allocates, allocated, allocating and allocation (noun). The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting allocates a budget for its publicity wing (Department of Audio Visual Publicity).

Most movies allocate about 10 per cent of the budget in making the movie for marketing and publicity. The Government of India can allocate an additional sum of money for a state in the country to overcome a natural disaster or a calamity. Many state governments in India demand allocation of funds to key projects such as for building dams.

The CEO of the company decided to allocate shares for all the employees for a throwaway price hoping they will be more participative in their work. The Government of India drew criticism when it failed to allot funds for anti-Maoist special force in the Red Corridor.

Allot also means to share out (allot the land to the landless), giving or sparing one’s time for various activities (unless you allot time for physical fitness you will not reduce weight), to portion out or distribute proportionately such as time, land, money, and others as a share of what is available. Derivatives of allot are allots, allotted, allotting (verbs) and allotment (noun).

The Union Ministry of Urban Development also has a role to allot accommodation (flats and bungalows) to the bureaucrats and politicians depending upon their entitlement. They finished their task within the allotted time for which they won a prize. A lot is two words: meaning much.

A lot of sweets were distributed at her birthday bash. In spite of having a lot of money, many people will not allot their funds to philanthropic activities; of course they allocate their cash to their progeny.

Kovuuri G Reddy