In the hospital/in hospital; university

Question

In UK English, why are the "a" and "the" omitted when referring to being "in the hopital" or "in a hospital". This usage seems to treat hospital like a proper noun rather than common noun. Should hospital be capitalized? Is this a recent trend in UK English?

This seems like the way a Scandinavian person might speak, accidentally leaving off an "a" or "the". I assume that in the UK it is not accidental. The word "university" is often treated the same way.

Are there any other words that this applies to?

Thanks!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

It is idiomatic of some institutions, Kumambachi, presumably because we are thinking of the nature of the operation rather than the physical structure, and is not of recent origin.

The use is the same for AmE, with the exception of 'hospital'-- 'in prison', 'in church', 'in school', 'in college', 'in university', 'in elementary school', 'in class'.

'In jail', 'in university', 'in hospital', etc, however, only apply to the prisoners, students and patients, respectively-- those who are matriculating, attending etc. The doctors and nurses are not in hospital-- they are at/in the hospital.

Vinodram · Answer

Hi Mister Micawber
I think that we can also use this (in hospital) for doctors and nurses. This i have read in many major books where in they have this usage in their books.

Kumambachi · Answer

Thank you for the quick reply Mr M.  It makes sense now with the examples you gave.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Anonymous · Answer

The words "a" and "the" are not omitted in the UK. They are not needed in the context you mentioned.

Using the word "the", makes it sound as if someone is talking about one hospital in particular. If you talk about going to a hospital in general, but, don't need to specify which one in particular, then it is actually correct not to use "the". It would also be correct to talk about going to "a" hospital. Either wording can be used.

It would only be necessary and therefore correct to use "the", when it has already been established that someone is talking about one, particular hospital. It is the same reason why British people don't talk about going to the school or going to the university, without first establishing which school or university in particular.

The confusion comes from the fact that American English adds the word "the", even though it is unnecessary and contradictory. That makes it sound as if there is only one hospital in the entire USA that all its people go to, and it has a sign on it that reads "The hospital". It also raises the obvious question of, why do Americans say "the hospital" but, not mention one in particular? Are they talking about something in general or something in particular?

The wording without the word "the", is not a recent thing in the UK.

The real question is, why does American English involve the word "the", when talking about going to hospitals in general?

Fivejedjon · Answer

AnonymousThe confusion comes from the fact that American English adds the word "the", even though it is unnecessary and contradictory. That makes it sound as if there is only one hospital in the entire USA that all its people go to, and it has a sign on it that reads "The hospital".

It doesn't sound contradictory to Americans. It's no more illogical or unnecessary than speakers of British English going to the cinema, the bank, the post office, the pub, etc..

In the hospital/in hospital; university

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