[Magdalen] Creeping UK-ism?

[Roger Stokes]

On 27/07/2015 15:46, Jay Weigel wrote:
> Interesting, too, in that I find more and more people using the British
> (and Commonwealth) "in hospital* rather than *in the hospital" as most
> Americans have been wont to say since I can remember. Of course News
> reporters simply duck the issue by saying "hospitalized".

There's a very good reason for dropping the definite article this side 
of the pond.  People from a particular area may go to one of a number of 
hospitals.  Simply saying "in hospital" conveys the information that 
they are not at home because of illness or whatever.  If you wish to say 
they are in a particular hospital then you give the name or some other 
clear identifier.

Roger