Difference between learned and learnt

[Nbvinay]

Hi All,

Please explain with some examples, when should one be used instead of the other.

1. Learned and Learnt.
2. Cooked and Cookt.

Thanks in advance,
Vinay

[Jamie (K)]

There is no difference between "learned" and "learnt". "Learned" is used more in North America, and "learnt" is used more in the UK, but both forms can be used in both countries, and they are interchangeable. There is no difference in meaning. Some Americans think "learnt" sounds like the English spoken by uneducated people, but in the UK it is the standard form.

The difference between "cooked" and "cookt" is that "cooked" exists in English, and "cookt" does not exist.

[Nbvinay]

Hi Jamie,

Thanks for your reply, one of my friend told that, cookt is used interchangeable for cooked and it is now obsolete.

Thanks
Vinay

[Jamie (K)]

It's so obsolete that in all my reading -- even of literature going back to the 18th century and before -- I've never seen it.

[Nbvinay]

:) thank you

[SkiIucK]

Hello,

I, too, sometimes use "learnt".

I have a question for Jamie: Why do you use two hyphens?

Many thanks.

[Jamie (K)]

I'm using two hypens instead of an em-dash. You have this punctuation mark in Ukrainian also. (Maybe you're not Ukrainian and I have forgotten where you're from.)

[SkiIucK]

I understand now. Thank you.