Spoiled or Spoilt?
What Is the Difference between "Spoiled" and "Spoilt"?
"Spoiled" and "spoilt" are not fully interchangeable. In the US, "spoiled" dominates to the extent that "spoilt" is considered a spelling mistake.In the UK, "spoilt" is sometimes used as the adjective (e.g., spoilt child) and the past participle (e.g., you have spoilt that child). However, Brits will also use "spoiled" as the adjective and the past participle. For the simple past tense, Brits (like Americans) prefer "spoiled."
Here's some simple advice: If you're unsure whether to use "spoiled" or "spoilt," use "spoiled."
More about "Spoiled" and "Spoilt"
The verb "to spoil" means to diminish or destroy the value or quality of something.In US and UK writing conventions, the simple past tense of "to spoil" is "spoiled." Brits will sometimes use "spoilt" for the adjective and the past participle. For example:
- She spoiled the pie. () () (Here, "spoiled" is the simple past tense.)
- The pie is spoilt. () () (Here, "spoilt" is an adjective. Brits accept this. Americans don't.)
- The pie is spoiled. () () (Here, "spoiled" is an adjective. Brits and Americans accept this.)
Americans Demand "Spoiled"
In America, "spoiled" dominates. The use of "spoilt" as the past tense or past participle of "to spoil" is widely regarded as a spelling mistake.Brits Prefer "Spoiled" but Will Accept "Spoilt"
Outside America, "spoiled" is the most common of the two, but "spoilt" is generally accepted for the adjective or the past participle.Verbs with Irregular and Regular Forms
"To spoil" is one of those verbs with both an irregular form and a regular form. The following verbs (like "to spoil") can be regular or irregular:Verb | Past Simple | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
burn | burned OR burnt | burned OR burnt |
dream | dreamed OR dreamt | dreamed OR dreamt |
learn | learned OR learnt | learned OR learnt |
smell | smelled OR smelt | smelled OR smelt |
spell | spelled OR spelt | spelled OR spelt |
Learning Resources
play:
Tetris (easily confused words) confidence game (easily confused words)lists:
common writing errors most misspelled words in Englishmore actions:
download the test below as .doc
send the test below as homework
Test Time!
This test is printable and sendable