Re: USAGE: Internetese deviancy - the definite article

Gary Shannon wrote:

>--- Roger Mills <rfmilly@...> wrote:
>
>
>>Gary Shannon wrote: (re "teh")
>>
>>
>>>--- "Mark J. Reed" <markjreed@...> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>
><snip>
>
>
>
>>I've assumed it's from chat rooms and instant
>>messaging, perhaps on those
>>magical new cell phones that use the internet or
>>something.  Beyond that, I
>>don't particularly want to know....   In fact, the
>>only odd use of "the"
>>I've encountered is in "The Donald", and I don't
>>like that either.
>>Harrumph.  (rejoicing in Old-Fogey-dom)
>>
>>
>>
>
>I still haven't figured out how the British decide to
>DROP "the" in so many odd places like "going to
>hospital" instead of "going to THE hospital."  Does
>anybody know what the rule is for when to drop "the"
>in order to speak proper British?  For example, does
>one say "I'm going to the city", or "I'm going to
>city"?
>
>Somehow, "going to university" makes "university"
>sound like a verb to me.  "I'm going to university and
>then I'm going to sing, and if you don't watch out I'm
>going to hospital you right in the face."
>
>--gary
>
>
The basic idea is institutions used for their intended purpose
In hospital for treatment v in the hospital to visit a patient
In prison to serve a sentence v in the prison to speak to some prisoners
At school, at college, at university to study v at the school, at
college, at university for a party
At church for the service v at the church to repair the stained-glass
windows

We say to, in(to) the city but to, in(to) town.

David Barrow

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