Since when did the prom…
…morph into just plain “prom”—as in “I’m going to prom”?
I’ve noticed this is the way proms are referred to these days. Or is it a regional thing? When I was growing up (in New York), it was always the prom.
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
I’ve noticed that, too. (I’m also in New England, though more to the west than you are.) Never heard that in the South.
It sounds kind of British — like the way they say “in hospital.” Will check with my high-schooler to see if she knows.
The prom. Michigan.
Not being preceded by an article, it could be mistaken for a state of being. “I’m going to prom.”
“Good heavens. Do you need a bucket?”
It’s a black thing. You wouldn’t understand. (Or wouldn’t care to understand, “noam sain?”) “Tru dat.”
I’m with Tri-
It is a Britishism, a subtle consequence of British infiltration of our MSM. Thanks be to PBS, NPR especially. Brits sound more educated, classier, an American self-doubting misconception that has been with us almost forever, at least since the days of Henry James. Europe and England= GOOD; grunty America, putting ’em in the dust with thought and deed= NOT SO MUCH. Do the Grand Tour.
-“in hospital” (in UK, it dont matter, it’s all NHS)
-“graduated college”
We see/hear this now all the time.
Yes, the Britishisms are infecting MSM reporting. Now, “disappeared” has “went missing”.
More data: my daughter (born in the South but raised in Mass.) says she’s going to “prom” tonight.
My wife (born in the Hudson River valley circa 1970) also says “to prom” without an article.
I’m from Louisiana and think they’re crazy. It’s THE prom.
But I believe the British “prom” or “proms” is an abbreviation for promenade, and is a series of summer concerts? Not a high-school dance which at least out West, was always “the Junior Prom”– a dance for the seniors sponsored by the Juniors.
Perhaps I should add that here in Washington State, we no longer have “Freshmen” but only first-year students, according to the state code. Elementary schools will no longer teach “penmanship” but only “handwriting”, No more “fishermen” but only “fishers.” We have to remove sexism from the state codes. They couldn’t find a substitute for “manhole”. Off the subject, sorry.
“The prom”, definitely. As in the definite article, ahem. 🙂 Short for “promenade”, yes?