Learned or learnt

Some grammar rules (and embarrassing mistakes!) transcend the uniqueness of different regions and style guides. This new International Grammar section by OnlineBookClub.org ultimately identifies those rules thus providing a simple, flexible rule-set, respecting the differences between regions and style guides. You can feel free to ask general questions about spelling and grammar. You can also provide example sentences for other members to proofread and inform you of any grammar mistakes.

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Jgideon
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Learned or learnt

Post by Jgideon »

Which of the two words is correct? Most of the times I find myself typing 'learnt' but Grammarly quickly underlines it and suggests 'learned' as the appropriate word. Please help
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MrsCatInTheHat
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

Juliet Muia wrote: 24 May 2018, 09:35 Which of the two words is correct? Most of the times I find myself typing 'learnt' but Grammarly quickly underlines it and suggests 'learned' as the appropriate word. Please help
Learnt is oral slang in some regions of the U.S.
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Post by love_b00ks »

I think both are acceptable, it depends on the dictionary used. American English sometimes do not accept it but British English does.
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Estheroboye
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Post by Estheroboye »

Both are correct, they are the past tense of learn. It can be learnt or learned.
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Post by meadhbh »

Generally, learnt is most commonly used in British English, while learned is most common in American English
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Post by Mely918 »

I always use learned instead of learnt. I don't think either of them is incorrect though. Just my own personal preference there. I also haven't read many books that use the word learnt.
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Post by nobunkum »

Interesting. I've never seen or heard of learnt. But I have only lived in western US and Canada.
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Post by liftedbooks »

I always prefer using learnt. Both are acceptable though.
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Post by Kristy Khem »

Learnt - British
Learned - American
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MThompson0605
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Post by MThompson0605 »

Jgideon wrote: 24 May 2018, 09:35 Which of the two words is correct? Most of the times I find myself typing 'learnt' but Grammarly quickly underlines it and suggests 'learned' as the appropriate word. Please help
I've seen LEARNT used, but only once every few years. Furthermore, I believe this to be a word used almost exclusively by people in the United Kingdom and the immediate region. I personally don't consider it legitimate, and only use LEARNED.
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Post by Burgundy1991 »

Both are correct. I believe 'learnt' is typically British English, and 'learned' is American English: the same with 'dreamt' and 'dreamed.'
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Mallory Porshnev
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Post by Mallory Porshnev »

Learned = American
Learnt = British
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_ayshaaaa_
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Post by _ayshaaaa_ »

Learnt is British but Grammarly goes with the American Style hence they detect it as a mistake.
But they are both right :)
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

_ayshaaaa_ wrote: 26 Jun 2018, 17:45 Learnt is British but Grammarly goes with the American Style hence they detect it as a mistake.
But they are both right :)
If you click on the explanation for the error in Grammarly, it actually tells you that is a non-American variant.
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Post by Daviesmurf »

In writing i'd use learned but while speaking i'd rather use learnt
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