April 3, 2011

“Come back to my blog on tomorrow”

A couple times, a few months ago, natives of Washington, D.C. said in conversation that they’d see me “on tomorrow.”

This was a new one on me, and it turns out that “on tomorrow” is dated to 1829 in Virginia in the DARE and OED; DARE features “on yesterday,” too.  DARE has cites from New York and Massachusetts speakers after 1900, so it may not just be a southern usage. 

I wonder how long it will take for “on tomorrow” to become standard American English.  See also . . . I actually kind of like it, at least.  It leaves a much better taste in my mouth than “y’all.”


No comments:

Post a Comment