a lot waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lot waiting" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that there is a significant amount of waiting involved, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "There is a lot waiting for us at the airport before our flight departs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I have learned a lot waiting for people who don't show.

The New Yorker

With money moving into gold, volatility rising and the dollar making significant gains, there was not a lot waiting to prop up a falling market, Newsom argues.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

A group of locals gathered in a parking lot, waiting for boats.

The New Yorker

"It's sad, sometimes it's a little degrading," she said as she stood in line in a parking lot waiting for free toiletries.

The New York Times

The tankers were idling at a parking lot, waiting for their turn to enter Afghanistan.

The New York Times

I'm at the airport, in a cellphone lot, waiting for my younger son to visit his old man.

Los Angeles Times

There's an awful lot waiting to come forth".

The Guardian - Music

Music was just this ethereal land of maybe, a lot of waiting and waiting.

The New Yorker

Go to a live tree lot, wait for a tree to call your name, and then haul it home.

Los Angeles Times

"There's a lot of waiting to hear, and waiting to be paid," Burton says, philosophically.

The Guardian - Books

A lot of waiting around".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing the idea of waiting, use grammatically correct phrases like "a lot of waiting", "much waiting", or "a significant wait". This ensures clarity and professionalism in your writing.

Common error

Do not truncate phrases like "a lot of waiting" to "a lot waiting". Always include the preposition "of" to maintain grammatical correctness and prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lot waiting" functions incorrectly as it omits the preposition "of", which is essential for grammatical correctness. As Ludwig AI explains, it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. To be accurate, it needs to be "a lot of waiting".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lot waiting" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal and informal writing. Ludwig AI confirms its lack of clarity and suggests using alternatives such as "a lot of waiting", "much waiting", or "a significant wait" for better clarity and correctness. While some instances appear in news and media, the phrase's infrequent and technically incorrect usage undermines its reliability. To ensure effective communication, always opt for grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant wait

This option focuses on the length or importance of the waiting period.

much to await

This alternative uses more formal language to convey the idea of having many things in the future.

considerable waiting time

This alternative emphasizes the duration of the wait.

long period of waiting

It clarifies the extended nature of the waiting.

much anticipation

This highlights the feeling of excitement or expectation.

a great deal to expect

This alternative presents a more general sense of anticipation.

significant expectation

It emphasizes the importance or impact of what is being awaited.

substantial delay

This term emphasizes the extent and consequence of the delay.

many things pending

This phrase stresses that numerous items or issues are unresolved and require future action.

extensive period of expectation

This option combines the concepts of a long duration and hopeful anticipation.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea of "a lot waiting" in a sentence?

Instead of "a lot waiting", use phrases like "a lot of waiting", "much waiting", or "significant wait" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

What's a better way to say "a lot waiting"?

Consider using alternatives such as "a great deal of waiting", "much to await", or "considerable waiting time" for clearer communication.

Is it correct to say "there's a lot waiting for us"?

No, it's grammatically incorrect. A better way to phrase it is "there's a lot of waiting for us" or "there's "much to await"".

What is the difference between "a lot waiting" and "a lot of waiting"?

"A lot waiting" is grammatically incorrect and unclear. "A lot of waiting" is the correct way to express that there is a significant amount of waiting involved.