topic “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”? in Community Chat

“All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

santorini — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 04:22:38 GMT

I've seen it both ways. I've always said "all of a sudden" but see it the other way sometimes. I googled it and found the note below. I guess everyone just says it the way they learned growing up.

All of a sudden is an idiom that is a more poetic way of saying “suddenly.” A common mistake to make, especially for English learners, is to write all the sudden or all of the sudden. On a sudden is a historic but outmoded variant. May 22 2019 Reference: www.grammarly.com/blog/all-of-a-sudden/

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

Venezia — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 04:40:30 GMT

I've only ever heard and used "all of a sudden". The other way doesn't even sound right to my ear.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

sunshine45 — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 04:40:37 GMT

i cannot say i have ever seen "all the sudden."

i have seen and used "all of a sudden" many times.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

santorini — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 04:43:30 GMT

@sunshine45 wrote:
i cannot say i have ever seen "all the sudden."

i have seen and used "all of a sudden" many times.

I see it ("all the sudden") on these forums. Just read a post containing it tonight and that's what made me google it.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

January121 — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 05:06:40 GMT

I prefer suddenly rather than all of a sudden but, I have used “all of a sudden” often.😉

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

amyb — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 10:49:50 GMT

I've only ever heard "all of a sudden."

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

AngelPuppy1 — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 10:51:21 GMT

I've only heard --- all of a sudden --- not -- all the sudden.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

Diva on The Q — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 11:47:36 GMT

I've never heard anyone say "all the sudden."

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

faeriemoon — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 11:59:49 GMT

I have heard "all the sudden" a couple of times. I say "all of a sudden" or "suddenly".

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

San Antonio Gal — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:02:05 GMT

I've never heard or seen "All the sudden". If you saw it in a post, it was probably a typo.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

Imaoldhippie — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:12:23 GMT

Im sure over the years I have used both terms. Why does it matter?

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

SilleeMee — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:13:04 GMT

I've seen it both ways. But I prefer suddenly.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

shoptilyadropagain — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:31:12 GMT

I've never heard "All the Sudden" spoken before.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

Krimpette — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:32:09 GMT

Never heard anyone say "all the sudden".

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

noodleann — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 13:58:43 GMT

I won't beat the bush on this. I feel I need to get my system while benefitting doubt, but not get bent of shape. Idioms missing key words are no longer idioms and lack the idiomatic meaning of the genuine article. "All the sudden" is such a phrase. It's meaningless. But I'm sure miles are various, so beg the difference.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

qualitygal — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 14:21:18 GMT

It makes me wonder. All of a sudden is most common that I know of. But in Canada for instance, I've seen videos where they say:

hospital, not the hospital

university, not the university

I think England says it that way too. So, I'm thinking, it's regional.

Like down south (of us) they say soda. Soda where I grew up, was ice cream and pop in a sundae dish with a straw and long spoon. Again, regional and what we grew up with.

We use to say, "kitty corner" and I know there's others who say it differently.

England calls an attorney a solicitor. (Found that one out in movies from England.)

It's all interesting.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

noodleann — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 14:59:36 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
It makes me wonder. All of a sudden is most common that I know of. But in Canada for instance, I've seen videos where they say:

hospital, not the hospital
university, not the university

I think England says it that way too. So, I'm thinking, it's regional.

Like down south (of us) they say soda. Soda where I grew up, was ice cream and pop in a sundae dish with a straw and long spoon. Again, regional and what we grew up with.

We use to say, "kitty corner" and I know there's others who say it differently.

England calls an attorney a solicitor. (Found that one out in movies from England.)

It's all interesting.

The Brits say "she's in hospital," omitting the article, and we understand what is meant. Kitty corner, catty corner, cater corner--they all refer to diagonal positions.

Trunk/boot, wrench/spanner, pullover/jumper, cookie/biscuit, apartment/flat, takeaway/takeout (food), elevator/lift . . . there are many American/British English name differences for the same thing. Usually it's easy to understand what's meant by the context.

But "all the sudden" is not a regionalism. It's nonsense.

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

Ladybug724 — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 15:46:58 GMT

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
Im sure over the years I have used both terms. Why does it matter?

The op brought up an interesting topic. This response is unnecessary

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

Ladybug724 — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 15:48:26 GMT

I have heard a famous preacher say "all the sudden" several times. I questioned it as well

Re: “All the sudden” or “all of a sudden”?

Johnnyeager — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 15:52:25 GMT

Very interesting topic and conversation! Quite enjoyable and worthwhile.