Do you use the definite article before "autumn"?

[Space60]

I say "in the spring", "in the summer", "in the fall", and "in the winter". However, "in the autumn" doesn't sound right to me. "In autumn" sounds better.

[Rounin Ryuuji]

I would use it with a specific autumn (as "In the autumn of 1998..."), however not usually otherwise; I don't always use the with the other seasons, however (I would say it's optional in that context).

[foxcatdog]

I don't have a particular tendency to use articles before seasons except when referring to specific seasons "the spring of '05" as Ryuuji said. I however do say stuff like "i'll do it in the spring". I don't think i have any special tendencies around autumn.

[Space60]

I would use it with a specific autumn (as "In the autumn of 1998..."), however not usually otherwise; I don't always use the with the other seasons, however (I would say it's optional in that context).

Yes, "in the autumn of 1998" sounds alright to me. "Leaves change color in the autumn" sounds strange however. It may have to do with the fact that the word "autumn" is uncommon here in ordinary speech. It is a more poetic word in my region.

[Travis B.]

I would use it with a specific autumn (as "In the autumn of 1998..."), however not usually otherwise; I don't always use the with the other seasons, however (I would say it's optional in that context).

Yes, "in the autumn of 1998" sounds alright to me. "Leaves change color in the autumn" sounds strange however. It may have to do with the fact that the word "autumn" is uncommon here in ordinary speech. It is a more poetic word in my region.

I am of the same view here.

[Jonlang]

Speaking as a Brit, we don't use Fall. I think pretty much all Brits would put the article before any season when it follows a preposition, and the zero-article when used more generally:

I should have started in the summer, but now I'll start in the autumn vs. Autumn is colder than summer.

Something I just realised though: autumn doesn't seem to ever be used compounded with -time: summertime, wintertime, springtime, but never autumntime - even my computer recognises the first three but highlights autumntime as an error.

[Rounin Ryuuji]

I would guess the suffixing of time in this case only works with the native spring, summer, (fall), winter, and not with the imported autumn.

[Jonlang]

I would guess the suffixing of time in this case only works with the native spring, summer, (fall), winter, and not with the imported autumn.

I don't recall hearing falltime either though; but seeing as I only hear fall in American media, maybe I'm just not exposed to it. However, falltime is also being marked as an error as I type.

[Travis B.]

*Falltime is not a word in the English I know, unlike springtime, summertime, and wintertime.

[Rounin Ryuuji]

It doesn't sound all that odd to me, though I don't think I've ever actually used it. I was probably originally thinking of -tide,

[Travis B.]

It doesn't sound all that odd to me, though I don't think I've ever actually used it. I was probably originally thinking of -tide,

Well -tide for me is very poetic.

[Rounin Ryuuji]

It doesn't sound all that odd to me, though I don't think I've ever actually used it. I was probably originally thinking of -tide,

Well -tide for me is very poetic.

It probably ought to be for me, too.

[Space60]

The season was historically called "harvest". Then "fall" and "autumn" came into use for the season. "Fall" fell out of use in Britain for the season, however it became the dominant name for the season in North America with "autumn" still in use as a poetic synonym.

[Rounin Ryuuji]

And harvest-time feels very natural and pleasant, if rather poetic.