The Vine: May 23, 2007
Hi Sars,
I am a professor of graduate studies in the health sciences field. As a scientist, I haven’t been required to take too many English or composition courses, so I would not consider myself any sort of authority on grammar or writing. It seems that my students have even less idea about writing than I do — much of their writing is atrocious. While I could go on all day about their use of non-PC terms to describe individuals with disabilities, one specific writing issue keeps coming up.
A group of students continually use the word “learnt” instead of “learned.” Is this right? I don’t think it is, but I don’t want to say something if I am wrong. Help me, Sars!
The English-ly Challenged Professor
Dear Challenged,
It depends on where your university is. Here’s Garner’s note on “learnt” vs. “learned”: “In AmE, the past tense is learned; in BrE, it’s often learnt. To use learnt in AmE is an affectation.”
So, if you teach at an American institution, you should discourage the use of “learnt.” At a British/other crown territory school, it’s acceptable.
Tags: grammar
