Earned or earnt?

MawBe

Not true JackyB !

MawBe, it's unfair to say not true, unless you back it up with your reason for saying so.

Not true JackyB !

Regarding "roofs" (even writing it makes me shudder!): I was taught that all words which end in f (roof, dwarf - except as a verb - hoof, calf, half) are pluralised with "ves".

LucyLocket55

For me my hackles rise when I read the word ‘dove’ instead of ‘dived’. As in ‘He dove into the water ‘ Grrr

You and me both. The whole subject of written English and what is correct and what isn't stems from America's Simplified Spelling Board.

In 1906, Andrew Carnegie was convinced that English could be a universal language used around the world if only English was easier to read and to write. In an attempt to tackle this problem, Carnegie decided to fund a group of intellectuals to discuss this issue. The result was the Simplified Spelling Board.

In the same year, President Theodore Roosevelt tried to get the government to simplify the spelling of 300 common English words. However, this didn't go over well with Congress or the public. With public sentiment against him, Roosevelt decided to rescind his order to the Government Printing Office.

The efforts of the Simplified Spelling Board continued for several more years, but the popularity of the idea had waned after Roosevelt's failed attempt at government support. However, when browsing the list of 300 words, one cannot help but notice how many of the "new" spellings are in current use today. With public sentiment against him, Roosevelt decided to rescind his order to the Government Printing Office.

If you search: Simplified Spelling Board, you will see how America came to alter the spelling of English and as 1906 was just about the cusp of the movie industry, and the films made by that industry, acted as a conduit, for what we know today as American English.

For me my hackles rise when I read the word ‘dove’ instead of ‘dived’. As in ‘He dove into the water ‘ Grrr

eazybee

*You don't have to be a good speller to study English literature to postgraduate level*.
Literature and the appreciation/analysis thereof isn't all about spelling.

It is pretty poor if you can't (be bothered to) spell correctly at post-graduate level after studying English for all those years.

The 'blurb' will have been written by someone in the Marketing department, though - not necessarily an English Literature graduate.

Callistemon

I saw the plural of Roof spelt Roof's yesterday.

Not how I would have spelt/spelled it

Sometime ago on a similar thread, I said that I still use rooves as a plural of roof. I was sternly corrected, not that it bothered me, I would never describe someone as a roofing contractor. Roofing, it just grates on my ears. And for what it's worth I refuse to give up the double 'I' as in terminus/terminii even if Gransnet spell checker underlines it in red. I can almost sense the spell checker writing SEE ME in red.

I saw the plural of Roof spelt Roof's yesterday.

Not how I would have spelt/spelled it

PollyDolly

On a similar vein.......why is the plural of ROOF, ROOFS but the plural of HOOF is HOOVES? Just asking......please don't shoot me.

I have been asking that question for years! ?

In France earnt is taught as the past simple for earn. My iPad, although I have downloaded an English dictionary, still insists on American spellings, it doesn’t like earnt nor words finishing ...our eg neighbour and will try to change spellings when I press the send button.

On a similar vein.......why is the plural of ROOF, ROOFS but the plural of HOOF is HOOVES? Just asking......please don't shoot me.

You don't have to be a good speller to study English literature to postgraduate level.
Literature and the appreciation/analysis thereof isn't all about spelling.

It is pretty poor if you can't (be bothered to) spell correctly at post-graduate level after studying English for all those years.

I’ve never heard it or seen it. It may exist, but it isn’t standard English, and I wouldn’t use it.

And Calendargirl, I think the opposite....

This is from 'the Grammarist':

In American and Canadian English, spoiled is both a past-tense verb (e.g., it spoiled yesterday) and a past-participial adjective (e.g., the spoiled milk). In varieties of English from outside North America, spoiled is usually the past-tense verb (it spoiled yesterday), and spoilt is usually the past-participial adjective (the spoilt milk). This is not a rule, however, and examples of spoiled used as an adjective outside the North America are easily found in all sorts of writing.

We watch Tipping Point now and again. Ben Shepherd often tells a contestant they’ve just ‘snuck’ into the lead. That grates on me and doesn’t sound correct.

TerriBull

Never absolutely sure about spoilt and spoiled

Always think ‘spoilt’ refers to indulged children, whereas ‘spoiled’ is if you burn your dinner!

Never absolutely sure about spoilt and spoiled

Witzend

Not too long ago I saw ‘earnt’ (used in a context that really grated) on an advertisement encouraging people to apply to our local university. I can’t remember the exact wording, but it certainly struck me as wrong.

Same university - I once picked up a leaflet encouraging applicants for an MA in English literature.
There was a very basic spelling error in the blurb!

You don't have to be a good speller to study English literature to postgraduate level.

Literature and the appreciation/analysis thereof isn't all about spelling.

Chuckle. I like that, minimoon. ?

This quote from Dorothy L. Sayers just about sums it up;

The English language has a deceptive air of simplicity; so have some little frocks; but they are both not the kind of thing you can run up in half an hour with a machine.”

Also then theres the use of the word 'learn-ed' in courts when they then say "my learn-ed friend" they don't pronounce it 'learned' as all one word do they? But yet its still considered a 'proper' usage there.?

It doesn't feel right though like 'learnt' I always say earned and learned.

That one grates on me as well Baggs

Lots of verbs have these double forms and it varies where they are most used.

I tend to use burned / burnt equally, but rarely use learned as the past participle.

I suspect most people do the same although not necessarily with the words I have mentioned.

Not too long ago I saw ‘earnt’ (used in a context that really grated) on an advertisement encouraging people to apply to our local university. I can’t remember the exact wording, but it certainly struck me as wrong.

Same university - I once picked up a leaflet encouraging applicants for an MA in English literature.
There was a very basic spelling error in the blurb!

Given that people write loose for lose, it's for its, and other screamers, earnt is a non-issue with me.