play illustration of a man watching a washing machine overflow
Commonly Confused

'All over sudden' vs. 'All of a sudden'

We'll help you figure it out at once


Is the correct phrase 'all over sudden' or 'all of a sudden'? Senior Editor Emily Brewster explains.

Transcript

Sometimes a word that sounds like the right word and feels like the right word isn't actually the right word. It's an eggcorn. Something that happens sooner than expected doesn't happen "all over sudden," it happens "all of a sudden." Sudden here is an obsolete noun meaning an unexpected occurrence.

Up next

play video drive safe ly
Drive Safe: In Praise of Flat Adverbs

 

You don't have to end all your adverbs in -ly to talk right.

play contractions
On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these

play how to use a dictionary
How to Use a Dictionary

 

The best way to find information in the dictionary

play is none singular or plural video
Is 'none' singular or plural?

 

Or both? Or neither?

play further vs farther video
Further vs. Farther

 

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.