Date Posted:16:27:15 10/10/07 Wed Author:Mad Bomber Subject: I did some research cause I disagreed, this is what I found out... In reply to:
Nightstalker
's message, "uhm" on 23:46:10 10/09/07 Tue
When I first read this post my immediate reaction was to blow it off as insignificant, but then I figured, the guy's not trying to hound Com about spelling or grammar, it's just a suggestion, and this is the library, which is a place for author's to discuss writing, so, I thought I would add my two cents on the subject (Wow, run-on sentence anyone?).
So anyway, I disagreed initially about which phrase was more correct, since I hear myself using the term "all of the sudden" more often. I did a quick search on the issue so that I wasn't just stating my opinion on the matter. Here's what I found.
Either phrase is fine when using dialog coming from characters. It does not matter which phrase is used: "all of the sudden," or "all of a sudden." Both are forms of slang. Slang is not considered grammatically correct when writing a college thesis paper, but in a fictional story coming from a character that speaks that way, it's more than fine to do. If writing formally, the word "suddenly" should be used. The phrase (either way) is an idiom. An idiom, as defined by wikipedia is: an expression (i.e., term or phrase) whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal definitions and the arrangement of its parts, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use. (Here's the link for that entire article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom )
If you're going to start reading that thread though just be fore warned that they start to really bicker about which way is most correct. Which in the end, it seems that either way works just fine when referring to fictional characters and their dialog. Slang, when used the way it is being used here, is not correct or incorrect. So you can't really say that Com is incorrect. Most of what I read on that discussion thread states that the phrase is purely regional in it's use. In the South, "all of the sudden" is used more, and in the North, "all of a sudden" is used. There is also, "all the sudden," which is used elsewhere. The people in this thread went so far as to trace the phrase and it's evolution back to the 1500s or something, so I can't see how it could be wrong which ever way it is used.
And that is entirely more than anyone needs to know about the issue. In the end I am sure it is just a pet peeve and I know you aren't trying to start anything with it. For the record, neither am I. I just wanted to share what I found about the ever evolving English language and it's many uses. So, to all that are reading, this is just a discussion! It is not in anyway a personal attack on anyone. The is a forum for writers to discuss writing and that's all that I'm doing. Okay? All right. Later, Me.
