Learnt vs Learned: Difference between Them and How to correctly use them

The past tense of the verb “learn” is spelled in two different ways: either “learnt” or “learned,” depending on the dialect being used. The meaning of the words “learnt” and “learned,” which both mean ”obtain talent or expertise” or “come to be ready to do something,” is the same whether they are used by a writer or a speaker. The spelling has a tendency to diverge from one version of English to another. The word “learnt” is the one that is typically used in the English language in the UK. Meanwhile, the word “learned” is used more frequently in the English language spoken in the United States. On top of that, British English has begun to be influenced by the American English tendency toward attempting to make irregular verbs into regular ones. It is one of the reasons why the “ed” variant is now becoming increasingly popular in countries all over the world.

The difference and comparison between “learnt“ and “learned“ are listed below.

  • “Learnt” is the past participle of the verb “​​learn,” which is used to indicate the action that occurred in the past.
  • “Learnt” is a word that is frequently used in the British English language.
  • “Learnt” is used when someone is making a reference to some sort of information or expertise that they gained at some point in the past.
  • “Learned” is widely utilized in American English.
  • “Learned” refers to something that has been acquired through the process of learning.
  • “Learned” refers to the past tense form and past participle of the verb “learn.”
  • “Learned” is an adjective that describes someone as having extensive and in-depth knowledge.

The verb “learn” has two past tenses and a past participle: “learnt” and “learned.” Nevertheless, the writer needs to be aware of their target demographics in order to correctly use the words in a sentence. It is appropriate to use the word “learnt” when speaking to a British English language audience. Meanwhile, use the word “learned” if the audience speaks American English. Furthermore, the word “learnt” must never be used as a noun or an adjective. It must only be used as a verb. On the other hand, writers or speakers are able to use the word “learned” as an adjective or a verb.

Some examples of “learnt” include, “In less than a month, he learnt to speak Greek and Spanish.” “The FBI quickly learnt of it and arrested all four conspirators.” The example sentences were used in the past tense context. The phrase​​ was all about what happened in the past. On the other hand, some example sentences of the word “learned” are “She learned to control her anger.” “Johnny has learned some things from watching a documentary.” The term “learned” was used in the past tense, which means the event happened in the past.

The question “Why know the difference between “learnt” and “learned” in content writing and marketing?” is one of the most commonly asked questions among content writers. Writers new to the writing industry frequently make mistakes, especially when it comes to words such as “learnt” and “learned.” They need to learn the difference between words because they need to deliver the right message to the readers. Knowing the difference between “learnt” and “learned” helps writers write better content and communicate healthily. 

What does “Learnt” Mean?

“Learnt” is used to denote the past tense and past participle of the verb “learn.” “Learnt” is the word that people who speak British English use when they are attempting to convey the idea that a certain piece of information was “learned” in the past. Consequently, “learnt” is acceptable to be used in place of “learned” in a sentence written in British English. On top of that, the word ”learnt” is traced back to the Middle English words lernd and lernde, which are translated as learn” plus “-t.” It was first used in 1200 and remained in use until the early nineteenth century.  The word “learnt” is still used today but in the past-tense form of the adjective ”learnt,” which means “having knowledge gained by study.” Moreover, “learnt” is among the most frequently used past participles and past tenses in the English language. It has grown to become one of the most important words in people’s lives and in the conversations they have every day, particularly in countries where the English language is spoken. They expressed abilities or knowledge gained from experiences in the past by using the word “learned.”

What are the sentence examples with “Learnt”?

Listed below are the example sentences for using the word “learnt.”

  • “She was pleased to learnt that she had achieved the required score.” The word “learnt” is used to express an event that happened in the past. The example sentence is all about how a person (she) was delighted to know that she acquired the passing score. 
  • “Johnny learnt about the geographic location of Australia.” The example sentence was all about Johnny who happen to be an explorer and educated himself about the geographic location of Australia. The example sentence was used to express an action that has happened in the past. 
  • “Mary learnt that she will be continuing her education in the United States.” The example sentence used the past tense of “learn” which is “learnt” to indicate an action that happened in the past. The example sentence was all about Mary’s education in the United States.  
  • “The mother of Jane learnt how to play the guitar.” The example sentence describes how the mother of Jane knows how to play the guitar. The past tense “learnt” was used to indicate that the event or learning to play the guitar did happen in the past.  
  • “During the days of Covid-19 lockdown, she learnt the art of cooking.” The example phrase was used to indicate that the person (she) knows how to cook, and the event happened during the Covid-19 lockdown. The example indicates that the event has happened in the past. 

When to use the word “Learnt” in a sentence?

The word “learnt” must be used as the past participle and past tense of the verb “learn.” It is used as a verb to describe acquiring knowledge or skills or becoming able to perform a task from the past. The word “learnt” must be used as “showcasing knowledge” or “defined by gaining knowledge.” There is no meaningful distinction between the word “learnt” and the word “learned.” On top of that, the authors must keep in mind that speakers of British English are more likely to spell the word “learnt” with a “t”  at the end of the word than American English speakers are.

How often is the word “Learnt” used in sentence?

The way in which the word “learnt” is spelled with a “t” varies according to the context of the discussion or the content being discussed. On the other hand, when it comes to using it in a single sentence, the word must not be used more than once. Moreover, the word “learnt” is one of the words that is utilized the most frequently, particularly in the course of a conversation. It is only appropriate to use the word “learnt” when discussing information or skills that a person has gained through experience or guidance in the past. On top of that, the word “learnt” must be used to indicate both the past tense of the verb “learn” and its past participle. It must only be used as a verb when speaking to audiences whose primary language is British English.

What are the synonyms of “Learnt”?

The word “learnt” has numerous synonyms. Some synonyms are “trained,” “educated,” “well-educated,” “egg-headed,” etc. These words are used to help readers figure out what a word means when an author uses a word that sounds like a word they don’t know the meaning of. It offers the reader a clear and distinct perspective of the text, which is one of the ways that it is used to help improve the overall quality of the written work. Some examples of the word “learnt” using other synonyms include “We have trained (learnt) a lot from the course.” “He never trained (learnt) as a result of his past failures.” On top of that, the word “learnt” does not have any interpretation phrases that are frequently used in the English language.

What does “Learned” Mean?

The word “learned” is the past tense and past participle of the word “learn.” It means being highly educated or demonstrating a high level of education; being knowledgeable or skilled as a result of education or experience. On top of that, the word “learned” originates from Middle English lerned, lernd, and lernyd, which is equivalent to learn + -ed. The latter term succeeded the earlier lered (“taught”), which was derived from Old English (e)lred, the past participle of lran (“to teach”). The word “learn” was once used to mean both “to teach,” which is now considered nonstandard usage, and “to learn,” which is now considered to be the primary meaning of the word. Moreover, the first known use of the word “learned” was before the 12th century. It is one of the past tenses and past participles that are utilized the most frequently in the English language. The word “learned” is now one of the words that people use the most frequently and that holds the most significance in their everyday lives. It’s a way to show what someone has learned or what skills they have gained through experience or study.

What are the sentence examples with “Learned”?

Listed below are some example sentences using the word “learned.”

  • “No one learned their knowledge by birth.” The word “learned” was used as a past tense to indicate that the event from the example sentence has happened in the past. The example sentence is all about knowing that each one of humankind was not born with knowledge. 
  • “At the age of six, she learned to become a licensed driver.” The example sentence is all about how a person (she) knows how to drive at the age of six. The word used “learned” is a past tense form of “learn,” which means that the event “at the age of six” has happened in the past. 
  • “She learned how to sew all by herself.” The phrase was all about how a person (she) knows how to sew all by herself. The word used is “learned,” which means that the event happened in the past, although there is no indication of a specific time. 
  • “Johnny learned his dance moves through his father.” The word “learned” was used in the sentence to express a message that the event of learning dance moves has happened in the past. 
  • “Mary learned a lot of insight into the history of her mother.” The past tense in the sentence is “learned” and is used to express a message that Mary knows a lot about her mother’s past. 

When to use the word “Learned” in a sentence?

​​The word “learned” must be used both as a verb and an adjective. The adjective “learned” is used interchangeably with “knowledgeable” to describe someone with a high level of education. Similarly, if “learned” is used as a verb, it must refer to a situation where a person has accumulated a great deal of information through study. The definition of “learned” is “shown” or “classified by learning,” depending on the context. On top of that, the authors need to keep in mind that an average reader of American English is more likely to be familiar with the spelling of the word “learned.”

How often is the word “Learned” used in a sentence?

The conversation being had or the topic being discussed determines how frequently the word “learned” is used.  On the other hand, when it comes to using it in a single sentence, the word shouldn’t be used more than once. Moreover, “learned” is one of the words that is utilized the most frequently, particularly in the course of a conversation. Used the word “learned” only when discussing how an individual has gained expertise in the past. The concept of learning is implied or characterized by the word. Further to that, the word “learned” must be used in place of “learn” in a sentence as either an adjective or a verb, depending on whether or not it is in the past tense or the past participle.

What are the synonyms of “Learned”?

​​The word “learned” has numerous synonyms. Some of them are “accomplished,” “educated,” “well-educated,” “cultivated,” etc. These words are used to help readers figure out what a word means when a writer uses a word that sounds like a word they don’t know the meaning of. It offers the reader a clear and distinct perspective of the text, which is one of the ways that it is used to help improve the overall quality of the written work. Other words that are used interchangeably with “learned” include “She finally accomplished (learned) the process of photosynthesis.” “Despite the fact that life occasionally gets in the way of their ambitions, they cultivated (learned) the ability to remain resilient.” On top of that, the English language does not have any frequently used interpretation phrases that contain the word “learned.”

How is the pronunciation of “Learnt” and “Learned”?

The words “learnt” and “learned” have the same pronunciation, aside from almost having the same spelling and meaning. It is extremely important to acclimate oneself to the various sounds that are used in the language, and the most effective way to do that is to study phonetics when first starting to speak English. The word “learned” is pronounced with a “D” at the end, and the correct pronunciation of these words is /lnd/ in the United Kingdom and /lrnd/ in the United States. Meanwhile, the word “learnt” is pronounced /lnt/ in the United Kingdom, whereas the corresponding pronunciation in the United States is nearly nonexistent, just like the written form.

Comparison between “Learnt and “Learned”

Listed below is the table that shows the comparison between the words “learnt” and “learned.”

LearntLearned
DefinitionThe word “learnt” is the past participle and past tense of the verb “learn.”The word “learned” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “learn.”
Context“Learnt” is used in a context that talks about an event that has been learned in the past.The word “learned” is used in a context that describes something that is discovered from a past event.
Example sentencesJohnny still hasn’t learnt his course.

Mary learnt the song and sang it by heart.
She finally learned how to smile after her trauma.

She learned a rap song about life.

Why are “Learnt” and “Learned” misused and interchangeably in English?

There are a lot of advantages to being able to communicate in the lingua franca of today’s time. However, one of the disadvantages is that people who write or speak it often question whether or not they are using it appropriately. The words “learnt” and “learned” are both past participles of the verb “learn,” which means they refer to information that was acquired in the past. It indicates that these words are used in the same context and have the same meanings; the only differences are in their spelling and the dialects in which they are spoken. These two terms are not used in a way that is synonymous with one another. Nevertheless, these words are utilized in a variety of regional accents. The word “learned” is used frequently in the context of the English spoken in the United States. Meanwhile, the word “learnt” is used more frequently in British English than it is in American English. These two words are acceptable to use, despite the fact that they differ. The word “learned” is being used in its verb form in the sentence. On the other hand, the word “learned” is used in its adjective and verb forms.

Are “Learnt” and “Learned” i​​n the most commonly misused English words?

No, “learnt” and “learned” are not words that are frequently confused with one another in the English language. The reason for that is that these words are used appropriately and are considered acceptable options. The terms “learnt” and “learned” are pronounced the same and have the same meaning when used in a sentence. These phrases are not included in the list of misused English words. The only difference between the two is in their spelling, but their functions are identical. However, “learnt” and “learned” mean very different things depending on the dialect being used. The terms “learned” and “learnt” are used in different dialects. The word “learned” is commonly used in American English, while “learnt” is more frequently used in British English. In the context of the American English language, the word “learned” is the one that is most frequently used.

What are the other similar Misused Word Pairs like “Learned” and “Learnt” in English?

Listed below are some similar misused word pairs like “learnt” and “learned.”

  • “Leaped” vs. “Leapt:” The words “leaped” and “leapt” are synonymous with one another similar to the words “learned” and “learnt.” The words “leaped” and “leapt” are both accepted forms of the verb “leap” when used as past tense and participle. The “leaped” spelling is more common in the English-speaking country of the United States. Meanwhile, the spelling of the same word in British English typically uses the word “leapt.”
  • “Dwelled” vs. “Dwelt:” There is no difference between the words “dwelled” and “dwelt,” just as there is no difference between “learned” and “learnt.” It is acceptable to use the forms “dwelled” and “dwelt” when referring to the past tense and past participle of the verb “dwell.” The word “dwelt” is the form that is most common in English dialects spoken in countries other than North America. Both of these forms date back many centuries, but “dwelt” has been the standard form for at least the past three centuries.
  • “Spelled” vs. “Spelt:” The words “spelled” and “spelt” are similar to the other single word pair. The words “spelled” and “spelt” are both forms of the verb “spell” that is acceptable in the English language. In the American English language, the form of the past tense that is most commonly used is the word “spelled.” Meanwhile, the word “spelt” is used more frequently in the English language in the UK. The most common definition of the verb “spell” is to spell down or to write the individual’s name by letters that make up a word in proper order.
  • “Dreamed” vs. “Dreamt:” Similarly to “learned” and “learnt,” “dreamed” and “dreamt” mean the same thing. Both the words “dreamt” and “dreamed” refer to dreams in their past tense forms. “Dreamt” is the more common form of the verb in British English. Meanwhile, the word “dreamed” is used more frequently in the United States as well as in other English-speaking countries. In addition to that, when people talk about their sleeping experiences, they tend to use the word “dreamed” rather than “dreamt.” On the other hand, when a dream contains a sense of optimism, the word “dreamt” must be used.

What are the things should a content writer consider in using the word ”Learnt” and “Learned”?

There are many things a writer must consider when using the words “learnt” and “learned” in content. First, both of these words are being used in the appropriate context. Nevertheless, the words are intended to be read by a particular demographic of people. The terms “learnt” and “learned” refer to the same thing, which is knowledge or skills that ​​have previously been procured in the past. On top of that, the second thing that a writer must take into consideration is the uniqueness of each word in terms of its spelling. The letter “t” is silently added to the end of the word “learnt” in both its spelling and its pronunciation. Meanwhile, the word “learned” is spelled with “ed” and is pronounced as “nd” at the end of the word. Last but not least, “learnt” must be used exclusively in the verb form. On the other hand, “learned” must be used exclusively in the verb and adjective forms of the language. The proper knowledge of how to use verbs and adjectives in a sentence is essential for writers.

Can content writers use “Learnt” and “Learned” in one sentence?

No, content writers are not able to use the words “learnt” and “learned” in one sentence. The reason for that is the meaning of these words is the same, and they are used in the same way when constructing sentences. It is considered redundant, which makes the work more difficult to process if writers were to use both of these words in the same sentence. Furthermore, the use of redundant words gives the content a negative connotation and brings down the overall quality of the content writing. Redundant words are not only annoying for the audience, but it causes the information to be drawn out unnecessarily. It merely makes the piece longer without adding anything of value to the overall quality of the piece. On top of that, the audience gets confused if writers used these words in the same sentence, which is especially problematic if the content is intended for a particular type of audience.

How do Content Writers use “Learnt” and “Learned” in their articles?

Content writers use the words “learnt” or “learned” as the past participle of the past tense of the verb “learn.” Furthermore, content writers use the word “learnt” only as a verb. Meanwhile, the word “learned” is being used by content writers as an adjective or verb. These expressions are utilized differently depending on the reader base of the author. The word “learnt” is frequently used in the British English language as well as in other languages spoken by people who speak English. On the other hand, content writers in the American and Canadian varieties of English use the word “learned” quite frequently. On top of that, the content writers used the words “learnt” and “learned” in the content writing to refer to some kind of information or expertise that an individual had previously been exposed to. “Learnt” and “learned” were used interchangeably throughout the content writing. In addition, these words are used in different contexts depending on the type of content that is being used.

Do Content Writers use “Learnt” and “Learned” in a wrong way?

No, content writers do not make the common mistake of confusing the words “learnt” and “learned.” The reason for that is due to the fact that both of those words have the same meaning, despite having slightly different spellings. On the other hand, due to the fact that they both have the same function in the construction of a sentence, even beginners do not use these words incorrectly. The only distinction between the two is the particular dialect that each speaks. The word “learnt” is frequently used in everyday speech, especially in the British English language. On the other hand, the word “learned” is the one that is utilized more frequently in the American English language. However, “learned” is the more common usage these days, even though the dialect is still being used.

Do Misused Words such as “Learned” and “Learnt” affect SEO and UX?

​​The improper use of words does have an effect on search engine optimization (SEO) and the user experience (UX). However, “learnt” and “learned” are not considered to be examples of misused words because both of these words have the same meaning and are used in the same context. The only thing that differentiates these words is the dialect in which they are used. The term “learnt” is widely employed in the British English language as well as in English-speaking countries outside the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the word “learned” is used more frequently in the English spoken in the United States of America and Canada. On top of that, grammatical errors have an effect on content marketing, not only at the level of the reader but also at the level of search engine optimization (SEO). A lack of proper grammar and the inappropriate use of phrases results in a loss of credibility as well as a negative impact on the user experience and search ranking. Improper grammar and the misuse of words, in addition, seriously harm credibility, which results in the loss of prospective consumers and directly affects a company’s bottom line. Using correct grammar is essential to the online success of any company that conducts business online. Furthermore, sentences with improper structure typically require additional time to fully understand; consequently, many readers stop trying somewhere in the middle of a sentence that has an awkward structure. As a consequence, a grammatical error or incorrect use of words conveniently results in a loss of interest on the part of the readers, which in turn hinders the efficiency of the content. Moreover, Google’s ranking algorithm takes into account a wide variety of SEO factors, including improper use of language and grammatical errors. It is without confusion a major factor that search engines use to determine how much high-quality content is available on the internet.

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Learnt vs Learned: Difference between Them and How to correctly use them

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