"the" or no "the"

[Wounded Melody]

When you speak or write, do you say things like "going to the hospital" or do you say "going to hospital". I know the second is more of an European way of speaking, but I've found that I speak/write that way more and more--something about it is more pleasing to the ear.

 

[reg42]

I say the, because I'm taught it's correct English.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Cherry Cola]

I say the.

Because I have good grammar.

 

[Latinidiot]

I believe the correct way to write is the hospital

 

[Wounded Melody]

It's correct in the USA, but not throughout the whole world XD

 

[Latinidiot]

It's correct in the USA, but not throughout the whole world XD

in english it is.

 

[Wounded Melody]

It's correct in the USA, but not throughout the whole world XD

in english it is.

Then why do the British say just "hospital"?

 

[Zacharine]

With the word 'the'. Because that's how I was taught, I was told it was proper grammar and I do not believe in intentionally butchering a language.

EDIT: this one sums up my feelings on intentional syntax genocide and language murder

Spoiler

 

[GundamSentinel]

Articles are there for a reason, use them! Hospital is not a verb. ^^

 

[rbnttn]

"I know the second is more of an European way of speaking"

How is this a more European way of speaking? Do you a specific part of Europe or something?

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

...?
The?
It is only correct with 'the', so that is how I say it...
I'm not going to start cutting a word out of my sentences...
Since when has that been a European way of speaking? I've never heard 'the' cut from sentences before.

 

[happyvampyre]

I use "the" because it's simply the way I've been taught, and all the books I've read use it, so it's simply been cemented into my language.

 

[Latinidiot]

It's correct in the USA, but not throughout the whole world XD

in english it is.

Then why do the British say just "hospital"?

because shut up.


no seriously, I think that's just laziness. In every language there are examples of language being used in an incorrect way out of haste, or, like Tellmei said, laziness.

 

[reg42]

It's correct in the USA, but not throughout the whole world XD

in english it is.

Then why do the British say just "hospital"?

I've never ever heard someone say that. Not Britsh, not Finnish. Never.

 

[Jaranja]

...?
The?
It is only correct with 'the', so that is how I say it...
I'm not going to start cutting a word out of my sentences...
Since when has that been a European way of speaking? I've never heard 'the' cut from sentences before.

Seems like someone has been rather misinformed, good sir.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I always write and say 'the'. Because I'm British, and that means...

Damn, I love our stereotype.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

Well i've heard people say someone is 'in hospital' rather than 'in the hospital' a fair few times... In fact pretty much every time. And people always say "We're taking him/her to hospital." or "He's going to hospital". It's a colloquialism.

 

[loremazd]

That's not british, that's Limey.

 

[EnzoHonda]

I'm pretty sure "sent to hospital" is a news-thing that some people have taken to saying. I.E. "The driver was sent to hospital." They don't say "the hospital" when they don't know which one it was or don't want to say. It's just not a good time for a definite article. "The driver was sent to St. Mary's Hospital" is what the newsies want to say but can't always.

Some native speakers have taken to saying it this way because they are developmentally delayed. Also, some people for whom English is not the first language (and they still have some trouble with it) speak this way because of lack or difference in articles in their native tongue.