What's more popular American usage: 'prom' or 'the prom'?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m editing something and need to know what’s more generally popular in the U.S. for modern teenaged kids: “I’m going to the prom” or “I’m going to prom.”

For my generation (graduated in the '80s), in New York, it was definitely the prom. In the story I’m editing, which takes place Anywhere USA and is intended to be universal, the kids keep saying “going to prom.” It drives me nuts, but I understand things may have changed in twentymumble years. And yet on a recent episode of The Office, Michael Scott said “to prom” himself, and he’s a few years older than I am.

So I’m wondering if you guys can help me decide this pressing question:

  • What sounds correct to you? “the prom” or “prom”?

  • How old are you?

  • Where are you?

The closer you are to your teenage years, the better. But we oldies can take part, too. :slight_smile: Thanks!

2

Graduated in 1999 from a high school in upstate New York.

“Prom” and “The Prom” were pretty interchangeable, with “The Prom” holding a slight edge. Although, teenage girls, who talked about it more to begin with and seemed more likely to say “Prom”.

3

I’d probably say “the prom” but both of them sound normal to me. I went to a school in Western NY and graduated in 2000.

4

Both terms are definitely used, but I think we just said “prom” most of the time.
Went to school near Atlanta and graduated in 2002.

5

I will graduate from high school this June. First I will go to prom.

6

I graduated from high school two years ago in Northern Virginia, but I did not go to prom. I stayed home and took care of my dad instead.

7

Both sound normal to me, but I think without the “the” was more commonly used. Let’s see: “I didn’t go to prom” v. “I didn’t go to the prom.” Yeah, #1 sounds more fluid to me.

I graduated from high school in Northern California in 1996.

8

The prom. Born in 1961. Before this thread, I would have thought prom would have been more of a Britishism. From my British friends I hear “going to uni”, “going to hospital”, etc, where I would say going to *the *hospital.

9

I am going to prom in two weeks. I have no idea what I will wear yet. Minnesota.

10

“Prom” here, though I’ve heard “the prom” a fair amount here.

Graduated high school five years ago.

11

I’d say “The Prom,” (not “the prom” but “The Prom”) if I was going to my school’s prom and “a prom” if it was someone elses prom that I was attending.

12

The prom. No question.

I agree with Khadaji, going to prom is like going to hospital, a Canadianism or Britishism.

Midwest, graduated in 1977.

13

Just “prom”. Florida, class of '99.

14

The prom. NE Ohio, class of '63.

15

Graduated HS in mid '80’s, eastern Pennsylvania and it was the prom. Only recently have I been hearing the term “going to prom” and I tend to doubletake with :confused:.

16

Here in southwest Oklahoma, it’s still “the prom”. “Going to prom” sounds like the infinitive form of something to my ears.

17

Just for reference, that bellweather of teen culture, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, uses “the prom”.

18

Western NYer here, graduated HS in 1985- “The Prom”, fer sure.

19

NYC- when I graduated in 1981, we said “the prom” . My kids, who graduated in 2007 and 2008 said “prom”

20

Ditto.

If I was going to prom, then I would be promming.