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

Usually, the second form (e.g., "learnt," "spelt") is acceptable in British English only.

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