lamarley Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I've always said, "All of a sudden," but have noticed recently that some people say, "All of the sudden." Perhaps it's a regional thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 "The" just sounds so strange!:lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I've never heard it used with "the." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 "The" just sounds so strange!:lurk5: And yet I see "A" as strange. "THE" sounds so much better. Maybe it is a regional thing? I grew up near New Orleans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamarley Posted July 22, 2010 Author Share Posted July 22, 2010 Ahhh, maybe we're getting somewhere. I live in Louisiana now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oasis Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I grew up in Missouri, and we say "all of the sudden"; "all of a sudden" sounds strange to me! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs.m Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 (edited) I grew up in Missouri, and we say "all of the sudden"; "all of a sudden" sounds strange to me! :001_smile: Are you Southern MO? "all of the sudden" sounds strange to me and I grew up in MO! I noticed there are regional speech differences within the state of MO! Edited July 22, 2010 by jannylynn I can't type. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Both sound right to me, and I think the one I use is based on how fast I'm talking. I'll blame it on being raised in TN by KS natives, and the fact I'm now married to a WI native but living in a western state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohdanigirl Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I have never noticed ALL of THE sudden, but now that you pointed it out I will probably hear it everywhere.:D Danielle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn in OH Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Everyone I know says "all of the sudden". We are in Ohio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oasis Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Are you Southern MO? "all of the sudden" sound strange to me and I grew up in MO! I noticed there are regional speach differences within the state of MO! I'm around the St. Louis area! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaissezFaire Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I was always taught that the correct phrase was, All of A Sudden. I found this: http://grammartips.homestead.com/sudden.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs.m Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I'm in Mid-Mo. Which may be the difference? Now I'm going to avoid saying that phrase and just say "Suddenly". ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily of the Valley Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Are you Southern MO? "all of the sudden" sound strange to me and I grew up in MO! I noticed there are regional speach differences within the state of MO! I grew up in Northern MO, and I say "all of a sudden". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 (edited) The book Common Errors in English Usage lists "all of a sudden" as correct. http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/sudden.html Apparently the phrase dates from at least the 1500s: In Shakespeare's day the common phrase was of a sudden, the word all being added in the late 1600s. http://www.yourdictionary.com/idioms/all-of-a-sudden Jackie Edited July 22, 2010 by Corraleno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freerange Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 All of a sudden here in England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oasis Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I've never pondered that phrase before, but I really don't use it. If I happen to have a need to use the phrase in the future, I'll make sure I'm saying it the right way! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 As sudden is an adjective, neither "a" nor "the" makes sense. :lol: It's just an idiom and I'm really surprised to learn that "a" is correct! I assumed it was supposed to be "the" and we've just gotten into a bad habit. Apparently I've gotten into a bad habit. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn in OH Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 After some research, I have found that it seems "all of a sudden" is the correct way to say it, if anyone cares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 As sudden is an adjective' date=' neither "a" nor "the" makes sense. :lol: It's just an idiom and I'm really surprised to learn that "a" is correct! I assumed it was supposed to be "the" and we've just gotten into a bad habit. Apparently I've gotten into a bad habit. :tongue_smilie:[/quote'] Yes but it can be a noun which I think it is in this case: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sudden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirch Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 All of the sudden doesn't even make sense.:confused: Neither does "all of a sudden," really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJsMom Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I don't use that phrase often, but I think I use it both ways. Neither sounds wrong to me. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Robyn Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Here in Iowa I say, "all of a sudden," and I think that's the only way I've heard it said until now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiKC Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Are you Southern MO? "all of the sudden" sounds strange to me and I grew up in MO! I noticed there are regional speech differences within the state of MO! :iagree: I have lived in Missouri 40 years and have never in my life heard "All of THE Sudden". Here, there or anywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kel & the Kids Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 My best friend says "the" and I say "a" and we grew up in the same town, went to the same high school... I always thought it was very strange! I'm glad someone took the initiative to scientifically investigate this issue :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Another Missourian checking in! Born/raised in Central MO, past 12 yrs. in St. Louis...I've been pondering this for a few minutes, and I think I say "all of a sudden" when I say it at a normal speed, and "all the sudden" (w/no "of") when I'm speaking quickly. How's that for weird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k2bdeutmeyer Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Iowa here...and I too have only ever heard it said "all of a sudden", but I have seen it typed (on various message boards) as "all of the sudden" a LOT! And....it's always driven me crazy :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crl Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Here in PA, we say "all of THE sudden". I had no idea that anyone said it differently or that it wasn't a real phrase to be used in everyday life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 I grew up in CO and now live in IL - in both places I hear "all of a sudden" I don't think I 've heard it any other way. Hmm...maybe I don't get out enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ester Maria Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 When I learned English as a foreign language, it was all of A sudden. They compared it to a similar Italian phrase where an indefinite article is used as well. I'm not sure, but I think that - unless I actively think about it - I say with A, but write both. Now you got me confused. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich with Kids Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Yikes! My answer would be neither. I just realized I say "All the sudden". I grew up in Missouri and transplated to Texas when I was 8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 "Suddenly," Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Suddenly.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I've never heard it used with "the." Me either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Everyone I know says "all of the sudden". We are in Ohio. Ditto! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Suddenly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Neither. Suddenly. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 To me "all of THE sudden" doesn't make sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest odoli Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 ...THE sudden is the original. So if you want to change it, you cannot do so just by hollering that it's not logical or does not sound right; a LOT of things in the English language are weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 THE. Grew up in Ohio, parents from England and Connecticut. Wow--such a small thing, but what feels right, feels right! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooblink Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 I was always taught that the correct phrase was, All of A Sudden. I found this: http://grammartips.homestead.com/sudden.html As the writer points out, it's an idiom, shpaed by usage. She says it may change some day, but that day has not occurred (in 2002). I think it has, in fact, occurred in my neck of the woods. :) Honestly, I say suddenly, if I say it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 I grew up in California and have actually never heard anyone in my life say "all of a sudden". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 I learned it "all of A sudden" when I was studying English as a foreign language in Spain. That's the form also used in England. I don't think I've noticed any one using "the" either in Maryland or California irl although I have seen it used in online boards. I have this totally unproven theory when I see regional differences like this in the US that depart from the standard form. My theory is that they could be due to foreign language interference. I picture Dutch or German or Polish or Italian or any other immigrants learning English. In areas with high concentrations of one language immigrant group the non standard form could easily then become the standard... To the poster who mentioned that "the" was the original form, would you mind to share how you came to this conclusion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich with Kids Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 I say all the sudden. Hopefully no one has noticed...:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffinmom Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 Think how you've seen it in print. I've never seen in a legit publication "all of THE sudden." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraciebytheBay Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 Funny, I just started noticing that too. I have heard "All the sudden" without the of. Sounds so strange to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 The book Common Errors in English Usage lists "all of a sudden" as correct.http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/sudden.html Apparently the phrase dates from at least the 1500s: http://www.yourdictionary.com/idioms/all-of-a-sudden Jackie ...THE sudden is the original. So if you want to change it, you cannot do so just by hollering that it's not logical or does not sound right; a LOT of things in the English language are weird. And you base this hypothesis/assertion based upon what? I quoted the other post as an example of how people have been offering proof for their POV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 I grew up in California and have actually never heard anyone in my life say "all of a sudden". I currently live in CA. I agree. I NEVER hear this phrase. But I grew up in AL, NJ, and KY and don't remember hearing it either. It must not have been something my family used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof4pks Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 I say "all of a sudden". I grew up in the Kansas City area, on the Kansas side, and I've lived in Montana, Florida, Texas, and now Maine. I've never heard it said any other way in all the places I've lived. Very interesting! But speaking of seeing people write things a different way and finding it annoying...it drives me crazy when I see "one in the same" instead of "one and the same".... :lol: Kristen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nono Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 Wouldn't it depend on whether the speaker was specifying a particular sudden or just a general one? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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