Is it earnt or earned?

Philippines
January 7, 2011 10:15am CST
I stumbled on a site and I saw that they used the word earnt. I used it in MS word but, it was underlined red. What is the real thing, I mean the correct one? Is it earnt? or earned?
1 person likes this
6 responses
jwfarrimond
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
7 Jan 11
It's not British English. My Oxford English Dictionary has "earned." The other is either a typo or just bad spelling.
petersum
@petersum (4522)
• United States
8 Jan 11
There ain't no such word as ain't - but you'll hear it everywhere including on the Beeb! We British speak perfect English - mostly anyway.
jwfarrimond
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
8 Jan 11
I speak Lancastrian but write in English
jelive
@jelive (10)
•
8 Jan 11
I think they applied the rule of the word "dreamt" to this one. EARNED is the right way of spelling the past tense of earn. They probably weren't native English speakers or just not well-equipped with knowledge of correct spelling.
suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Jan 11
The correct term is 'earned.' There are exception to this rule. For instance, in British English, they will use 'dreamt' instead of 'dreamed' that is more common in American English.
petersum
@petersum (4522)
• United States
7 Jan 11
I ain't sure! Sounds like a typical British pronunciation. With so many regional dialects, who speaks English?
puccagirl
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
7 Jan 11
Earned. For sure. The other one is just a typo.
Serenity81
@Serenity81 (38)
• United States
8 Jan 11
The correct one is earned. :)