@MLClark In the UK, it is simply "I had to go to hospital." If there's more than one locally, we would ask "Which one?"
@MLClark
Also, "Horseback riding".
Which other part of the horse were you planning to sit upon?
Here, it's just horse riding.
If you're in a cart or carriage, you're driving not riding.
But it's so sweet it's impossible to be upset by it.
It does have a poetry to it in that longer form, doesn't it? :)
But you've struck upon a real mystery, apparently! No one knows why the New World went one way with the term, while the Old World stayed the course.
Possibly two terms just "melded" in common usage over time, even if they don't make as much sense as one.
Either way, at least this merger's not as bad as "irregardless" (shudder).
https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2006/11/why-do-americans-say-horseback-riding.html
@stueytheround Going "to hospital" sounds weird to us. But we say someone goes "to prison." @MLClark
@stueytheround
😬 I mean, maybe only one in the vicinity that's covered by their insurance...? If that?!
But we say this in Canada, too, so who the heck knows, eh?