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Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009"Prom" versus "The Prom"
I decided to read the teen novel _Twilight_ over vacation. In it, several of the characters refer to "going to prom." When I was of an age to care, I would have said "going to *the* prom." But, now that I pay attention, I do occasionally hear it referred to without the definite article. Is this a regional difference or a change over time, I wonder? The author is from Utah. Is there a larger pattern of eliminating the definite article in common phrases? Google hit counts suggest that including the article is significantly more common, but not universal. "go to the prom": 5,610,000 hits "go to prom": 279,000 hits. Two of the first-page "go to prom" hits are newspaper speak, e.g. "Go to Prom, Get Suspended, School Says," so I wouldn't really count those. -JoAnne -- >I decided to read the teen novel _Twilight_ over vacation. In it, several >of the characters refer to "going to prom." > >When I was of an age to care, I would have said "going to *the* prom." >But, now that I pay attention, I do occasionally hear it referred to >without the definite article. A most enjoyable part of my youth were the nights in sleeping bags with other youths outside London's Albert Hall during the Proms. I nearly had my first real sexual experience with a girl on the pavement one night but she woke up and created a fearful fuss.  SignatureJames Follett. >> I decided to read the teen novel _Twilight_ over vacation. In it, >> several [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > my first real sexual experience with a girl on the pavement one night > but she woke up and created a fearful fuss. Perhaps you were trying to go allegro when she would have preferred andante ma non troppo. SignatureMike Page Google me at port.ac.uk if you need to send an email. > Google hit counts suggest that including the article is significantly > more common, but not universal. > > "go to the prom": 5,610,000 hits > "go to prom": 279,000 hits. It's always "the Prom" in my experience, especially amongst those who know and love it: http://is.gd/I0YB SignatureRegards John for mail: my initials plus a u e at tpg dot com dot au > I decided to read the teen novel _Twilight_ over vacation. In it, > several of the characters refer to "going to prom." [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > to Prom, Get Suspended, School Says," so I wouldn't really count > those. I'm from the wrong country but I have children who have recently been going through their final years at school. They jokingly refer to their Year 12 Formals as Prom and I think dropping the 'the' is a fairly recent development but must be quite common, given it's made its way through popular culture to Australia. On May 28, 9:07 am, "Tasha Miller" <tashamill...@gEEEmail.com.invalid> wrote: > > I decided to read the teen novel _Twilight_ over vacation. In it, > > several of the characters refer to "going to prom." [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > - Show quoted text - In the U.S., the only use of "prom" I know is: a formal dancing party for teenagers, one for juniors in high school (the eleventh year of formal schooling) and one for seniors. These are "the Junior Prom" and "the Senior Prom." Evening gowns, corsages, live music, the whole works. They have been less formal from time to time (especially in the '70s), but they seem to be getting more formal than they used to be. Kids are renting limousines now, and continuing the party till dawn. > On May 28, 9:07 am, "Tasha Miller" <tashamill...@gEEEmail.com.invalid> > wrote: [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > be. Kids are renting limousines now, and continuing the party till > dawn. My daughter's Formal (dance) is in a few weeks and I was told this week that a 12-seater limousine will be turning up at our house. Corsages aren't the norm here but suits and evening and cocktail or tea length dresses suits are. I have to admit I am looking forward to seeing them all 'scrubbed up' - especially the boys. Most of those slouch around in hoodies and droopy jeans, hair in tousled disarray with varying amounts of bum-fluff adorning their faces, so I expect to hardly recognise a couple of them. My daughter isn't a 'girly girl' so we're avoiding the excesses of horrendously expensive pre-dance spray tan and make up sessions some girls think are necessary. She is undecided on whether she'll book a hair appointment because she doesn't want an up do and my inadequate skills are equal to putting some curl into her long tresses. The Dress was fairly expensive according to my standards but apparently a new handbag and shoes are not necessary. I gather this is a very unusual attitude for a 17 year old so consider myself blessed to be getting through this without spending a small country's budget on her finery. As a matter of principle and to retain my standing as a committed Mean Mum the limousine is coming out of her wages from her part time job. The only question to be answered now is where the after-party will be and will it be at our house, as it often seems to be. I have mixed feelings on this because while my daughter is right and it definitely isn't her turn, I do quite like to know the supervision is going to be adequate and am willing to put myself out a fair bit to have that comfort. (Oops, far too much information! Oh well, it's a little slice of life from an Australian mother of teenagers.) |
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