Any experts on grammar out there?

Question

I'm in the middle of writing an essay at the moment. Can anyone tell me when it is correct to use "learnt" and when it is correct to used "learned" and what's the difference if any?
Thanks, much appreciated!

Yeah I meant *use* grammar experts. ;)

I'm English.

Answer 1

The *prescriptive* answer is:
"learned" should used in phrases such as "a learned professor", in which case it is pronounced with two syllables.
"learnt" should be used in phrases like "I learnt a valuable lesson today".

The *descriptive* answer in British English is:
"learned" is used in phrases such as "a learned professor", in which case it is pronounced with two syllables.
Either "learnt" or "learned" are used interchangably in phrases like "I learnt a valuable lesson today".

The *descriptive* answer in American English is:
There is no such word as "learnt". Use "learned" always.

Answer 2

As other answers have already said, the two are pretty much interchangeable in English.

Part of the origin of the different spellings seems to have come about because of pronunciation. In some cases, the "-ed" sound comes out as a "-t", and I would imagine that, if someone was trying to make notes in shorthand, they would spell it with a "-t", because it is slightly quicker to write it that way, and it just became common usage.

When I was in the choir at school, the singing teacher always used to tell us to sing words ending in "-t" with a "-d" sound, because it deadened the word, and gave it a definite end. Otherwise, he used to complain that any words ending with "-t" continued into the next line of the song, because everyone ended it at a different speed, and you'd get a wave of "T-T-T-T" sounds across the choir.

It sounds really weird, but you try getting a group of, say, twenty people to end a word such as "learnt" at exactly the same time. Singing "learned" sounds exactly the same (unless you're pronouncing it "learn-ed", of course).

I know it doesn't really answer your question - sorry! - but I always thought it was one of those interesting little "factoids" you learn through life.

Answer 3

British English uses learned and learnt.

American English only uses learned.

They mean the same. They can be used interchangeably.

Answer 4

Nearly always either word will do. There is a rare usage of learned. It is pronounced learn-ed when it is used in this special way. It then means well-educated. It might be used in a law court or in a parliament, especially a British parliament.

Answer 5

According to my Chambers Dictionary 'learned' and 'learnt' are of equal use and value. You can use either. It's the same with 'leaped' and leapt' , just one of the peculiarities of the English language.

Answer 6

Usually learnt is used in past-terms like "I learnt how to cook" but learned is often used to describe like "He is a very learned person" meaning educated. Although learned is also used in past-terms form.

Answer 7

"Learnt" is more of a slang form of "learned" so I would say stick with "learned"

These are alternative forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb learn. Learnt is more common in British English, and learned in American English. There are a number of verbs of this type (burn, dream, kneel, lean, leap, spell, spill, spoil etc.). They are all irregular verbs, and this is a part of their irregularity.

Answer 8

Learned is past tense, dont use learnt.

Answer 9

learnt is not really a word (in the US) and only used in Arkansas and some other southern states.

Good tip. If you don't know how to use a word don't use it.

Answer 10

No expert but here goes:

Examples:

I learnt how to drive recently
I learned the hard way that smoking was bad for me.

I think it is tense, e.g. learnt, present tense. Learned is past tense. Good luck.