Definite article

This is something that I have noticed as well. The British use the definite article or lack thereof differently than the Americans.

It is common in England to say “Grandma is in hospital” not “Grandma is in the hospital”. The way that they distinguish using it here is if you are associated with the place such student-university, patient-hospital, sailor- sea, convict-prison.

They do have some phrases that have to have the definite article such as tell the time and they also use it when saying dates like the Fourth of July not Fourth of July.

I always wondered why I struggled when typing dates but reflecting on this research it answers my question.