Re: hospital or the hospital

Django Cat wrote:
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> > Yesterday Tony Blair was in the hospital. All the US networks said that
> > he was in THE hospital. The BBC said, "Tony Blair was in hospital."
> > Notice no "the."
> >
> > Why the difference?
> 
> In BrE (and until your posting I assumed it was the same in AmE)
> *hospital* is one of a number of nouns that you use with or without an
> article depending on whether you're more interested in the institution
> or the physical building.  Compare:-
> 
Anyone have a comprehensive list?



> He's in jail/hospital...
>
"He's in jail" works in AmE. 


> She's at university in Manchester...
> They got married in church...
> 
Church is also fine but you say 'the university' in AmE.