Microsoft being what it is, has this annoying habit of underlining what it considers to bve incorrect word/s. In my previous post, it has underlined “learnt” and expects me to change it to “learned”. Unlike Bill Gates, I learnt, there it goes underlining it again, my English from the English. So, I undertook some research and found this charming piece of information on the net.
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.
So, there!!
What say Bunc, Conrad and Teeni? (Strictly in alphabetical order!) I wonder how the Canadians and Australians react to it too. What say Jim and Marianna?
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