"All of the Sudden?"

[Cyinthenorth]

Growing up in a small Iowa community, I always knew it as "All of a sudden". Then we had some folks move in to town from Cincinnati and they brought the derivative "All the sudden" completely ignoring the "a". I never corrected it, but it always bothered me for some reason.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

In the 17th century, "sudden" was used as a noun. Now it is not. Modern English no longer considers "sudden" to be a noun, which is probably why you balk at "all the sudden", but historically speaking, it's quite correct.

What's more, we are more likely to use the structure "all THE" in other adverbial structures such as in "all the TIME" and "all the WHILE". "All of A" doesn't exist anywhere else.

That said, your bête noire is your bête noire.

Pretty sure I read that one day at the liberry.

I love linguistics because it tells the grammar police that there's really no rules but what people understand. It's really interesting to look back at how words change through time.

 

[Bipolarcy]

I guess I don’t really see this one as a dumbing down of America since the phrase doesn’t make much sense anyway and almost makes more sense for it to be “all of the sudden”

It's a common phrase. It's been a common phrase for decades. That's one thing you notice about younger generations when an old fart like me uses a common everyday phrase. They think you made it up because they never heard it before. I run into this all the time. I once said to a Generation Z type that he was straining gnats and swallowing camels. He had no idea what it meant and when I explained it to him, he said I made it up. Maybe it's not dumbing down so much as old-time phrases falling out of favor. That doesn't mean they aren't still used.

 

[Tailg8er]

It's a common phrase. It's been a common phrase for decades. That's one thing you notice about younger generations when an old fart like me uses a common everyday phrase. They think you made it up because they never heard it before. I run into this all the time. I once said to a Generation Z type that he was straining gnats and swallowing camels. He had no idea what it meant and when I explained it to him, he said I made it up. Maybe it's not dumbing down so much as old-time phrases falling out of favor. That doesn't mean they aren't still used.

Thanks grandpa, had to google that.

 

[WooBadger18]

It's a common phrase. It's been a common phrase for decades. That's one thing you notice about younger generations when an old fart like me uses a common everyday phrase. They think you made it up because they never heard it before. I run into this all the time. I once said to a Generation Z type that he was straining gnats and swallowing camels. He had no idea what it meant and when I explained it to him, he said I made it up. Maybe it's not dumbing down so much as old-time phrases falling out of favor. That doesn't mean they aren't still used.

I have never heard of straining gnats and swallowing camels

 

[FarminCy]

Thanks grandpa, had to google that.

In my mid 40s and glad I’m not the only one that had to look that one up to see if it’s even real!!!

 

[wxman1]

I seen the threat title and had hoped for something more interestin than a school lesson.

 

[VeloClone]

I cringe whenever I hear "on the daily" or "on the regular" come out of someone's mouth.

Also, it seems even journalists who write for a living can't seem to understand that not only are "a part" and "apart" not the same, they are actually opposites of each other. Sports journalist are constantly writing about someone being "apart of a team" which is really a grammatically incorrect way of saying they are separate from the team.

 

[MeanDean]

FWIW eastern rural Iowa has been full of people saying 'I seen' for at least the last 70 years so we were well on our way.

FIFY based on my life experience. I actually only remember one fairly green boy using it. Our teachers quickly broke him of the habit in our tiny elementary school.

 

[Jayshellberg]

Suddenly, CF is starting to see more crazy threads.

 

[cytor]

When did everything become "perfect?"

I go to a restaurant and order something and the server says, "Perfect" EVERY TIME.

Server: " Are you ready to order?"
Me: "Yes"
Server: "Perfect."
Me: "I'll try the half pound cheeseburger with kettle chips, please."
Server: "Perfect."

 

[Cyballz]

don't make people with bad grammar escape goats

 

[cytor]

This thread is loosing its direction.

 

[g4ce]

When did everything become "perfect?"

I go to a restaurant and order something and the server says, "Perfect" EVERY TIME.

Server: " Are you ready to order?"
Me: "Yes"
Server: "Perfect."
Me: "I'll try the half pound cheeseburger with kettle chips, please."
Server: "Perfect."

It's just a phrase of acknowledgement or understanding. Similar to saying "great" or "ok" or "excellent" in response to verbal communication, showing that you understand what was said. The phrased used changes with time and for each person.

 

[cyphoon]

I could care less about this.

Supposably.

H

 

[KnappShack]

I love linguistics because it tells the grammar police that there's really no rules but what people understand. It's really interesting to look back at how words change through time.

And throughout history everyone can agree the Chicago accent is the shts.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

And throughout history everyone can agree the Chicago accent is the shts.

Boston is the worst.

 

[KnappShack]

Boston is the worst.

I was told that I sound liked an "educated redneck" so maybe Iowa is in play too.

Although SE Iowa is basically a Missouri/Confederate accent and northern Iowa is whatever the **** that is.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Growing up in a small Iowa community, I always knew it as "All of a sudden". Then we had some folks move in to town from Cincinnati and they brought the derivative "All the sudden" completely ignoring the "a". I never corrected it, but it always bothered me for some reason.

Speaking of small town Iowa.... I don't know if there are two words I hate more than supper and gal.

 

[cytor]

A friend of mine that lives in Iowa told me, "If Iowa gave up the southernmost 10 miles of the state to Missouri, the IQ for both states would increase."