All of a sudden vs. all of the sudden. Which one do you use?

Question

I have a pet peeve. I have always thought the expression is all of a sudden, but many use all of the sudden. This has irked me for years thinking that people are ( to be polite, lol) misinformed. I have heard both on T.V., in books, and from people that I would definitely say were very intelligent, so Yahoo Answers people, which do you think it should be?

Answer 1

All of a sudden uses 'a' because of the way we use 'a' and 'the' in English. 'A' is used when we don't know which 'thing' you are referring to, e.g." I saw a dog near my house." When you have introduced the dog, and I know which one you are talking about, you can use 'the'. For example, you could follow on with, " The dog was wearing a red collar."

Because I don't know which 'sudden' you are referring to, it must always be 'all of a sudden'. You could just replace it with 'suddenly' if you wanted to.

Answer 2

Ooh, it irks me, too. I do believe the expression is "all of a sudden". Personally, though, I prefer to use the word "suddenly".

Answer 3

I believe "all of a sudden," based on an entry from an online etymology dictionary:

"Phrase 'all of a sudden' first attested 1681"

www.etymonline.com, under the heading "sudden"



*Woah - well I'd go with Keyboard Cowboy. That's great information!

Answer 4

All of a sudden is the correct use

Answer 5

All of a sudden

Answer 6

Wow Good question, You really got me thinking at first I was sure it was "All of a sudden" but then all of a sudden it occurred to me that "All of a sudden is right........Cheers.....Red

Answer 7

It is definitely All of a sudden. I know what you mean about it irking you. It would irk me also.

Answer 8

All of a sudden.

Answer 9

All of a sudden would be correct.

Answer 10

I believe the correct term is "all of a sudden".

Answer 11

all of a sudden

Answer 12

All-Of-A-Sudden...

Answer 13

all of a sudden



all of the sudden sounds stupid

Answer 14

all of a sudden

Answer 15

All of a sudden is what i use.

Answer 16

all of A sudden



iv never hurd nebody use THE sudden b4

Answer 17

all of a sudden.

Answer 18

it should be all of a sudden

Answer 19

all of a sudden =]

great minds think alike ;)