Re: Spelling and Grammar in our e-mails

[Mark Sylvester <msylvest@XNET.IT>]

Indeed, many verbs used to form the past tense with 't', even if only a few
retain it as an option... spoilt, burnt, leant, knelt... Open Shakespeare
almost anywhere and you'll find some of these. Romeo to Mercutio: "I dreamt
a dream tonight..." Herb, you can blame your English teachers for
inculcating a misconception!

Mark

At 08:36 08/03/03 -0500, Vern Lindberg wrote:
> >...
> >While reading his interesting comments, the verb, "learnt"
> >that he used happened to catch my eye. In my younger days,
> >I did a considerable amount of professional proofreading
> >as a technical writer. I remembered that back in school, we were
> >always cautioned to say "learned" rather than the incorrect
> >word "learnt"
>
> Incorrect according to whom?
>
> >However, I just checked my Webster's Dictionary and, sure enough,
> >the word "learnt" was listed there along with some other
> >accepted choices.  I was wondering if anyone else on this
> >list-serve had similar experiences. ......
>
> ...
>
> >
> >Herb Gottlieb from New York City
> >Where only our New York Times newspaper seemd to be paying
> >attention to our old-fashioned spelling and grammar)
>
> Whose "old-fashioned spelling and grammar?" A quick check on the
> Merriam Webster online (<http://www.m-w.com/home.htm>) says "chiefly
> British past and past participle of LEARN"
>
> My Random House also has "learnt" as an alternative spelling, but
> with no etymology. It could be that "learnt" is as old or older as
> "learned."

Mark Sylvester
UWCAd
Duino Trieste Italy