Confusing Words: Burned (past tense) and Burnt (past participle)
Meaning: (of a fire) produce flames and heat while consuming a material such as coal or wood.
Burned vs Burnt Clarification: Burned and burnt are both correct spellings to be used within sentences.
Burned vs Burnt – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
There is a minor difference between burned and burnt in terms of pronunciation but there is no difference in meaning. Both of these words can be used interchangeably. The problem is with the region or people that you have to be careful about.
Define Burned/Burnt
Burned or burnt can be used as the past tense and the past participle form of the verb ‘burn’. Both burned and burnt are used to refer something that has been destroyed by fire or heat.
Note: Remember one thing, burned and burnt refer something that was happened in the past.
1. He burned his entire bookshelf for no reason.
2. Almost ten thousand papers were burnt infront of my house.
3. Cambridge college appeals for ‘calm’ over student who burnt £20 note in front of homeless man. (Cambridge News)
4. A fire broke out in Disneyland’s main parking structure that burned eight cars and forced seven people to be treated for smoke inhalation, authorities said. (Omaha World-Herald)
Burned and burnt can also be used as adjective within sentences. For example, burnt orange, burned car, burnt toast, burned house, etc.
Where to Use Burned or Burnt?
Though both of the spellings are acceptable as the past tense form of the verb ‘burn’, but, burned is more preferable than burnt. You will see burned in most of the worldwide publications.
In the same way, American English prefers burned than burnt. Only American English, most commonly, makes this distinction between burned and burnt. They want to go with the older version ‘burned’. However, you will see burnt used as adjective in many American publications.
Burned is more common than burnt
Beside the above discussion, burnt is the newer version and is favored by Britishers. It means that in British English, burnt is the more preferable spelling than burned.
Check Out: The Difference Between Assume and Presume.
What Did You Learn?
Burned and burnt are both correct spellings to be used within sentences. They are used to refer something that has been destroyed by fire or heat. Burned is more preferable spelling than burnt. However, burnt is used more commonly in British English.