Random survey of the day

[cloudlessnights]

...and when I say random, I mean really random, but please bear with me and perhaps take a moment to indulge my curiosity.

Poll

Comments

[shocolate]

oh dear - I am either an endangered species - or British!

[cloudlessnights]

*g* Apparently you are endangered only when it comes to learnt, but still in the majority when it comes to dreamt, if that helps any ;-)

[japonicastar]

Like shocolate I'm British and chose the second choice on all. But I do see the other answers in fanfics which are written usually by Americans.

[ninquenis]

As an American who has had to teach British English (that was hell) I tend to say either depending on mood. But the top choice is considered American standard but both are permissible in American English. Except for It has been proved. I don't think the third form of the verb is ever proved.

[cloudlessnights]

I don't think the third form of the verb is ever proved.

Actually, dictionaries and grammar books will tell you that both "proved" and "proven" are correct past participle forms of prove, expect when used as an adjective, in which case "proven" is to be preferred (as in, a proven fact, not a proved fact). So "it has been proved" is technically correct, just apparently very unpopular ;-)

[anndor]

Actually Number 1 is tricky.

I tend to say 'I had a dream' or 'I dreamt', but I write 'I dreamed'. :3

[cloudlessnights]

Huh. I didn't even consider the possibility that people might use different forms in reading and writing, honestly.

[ardys_the_ghoul]

I say "dreamed" and "learned," but I also say "proven." I also tend to write "humour" rather than "humor," despite the fact that I'm from Indiana.

[cloudlessnights]

*g* Nice to see all those extra "u" get some love in the US as well, I guess ;-)

Out of curiosity, though, is it just humour or do you also write colour, honour etc.?

[ardys_the_ghoul]

Ha, it depends on the situation. If I used them in my papers for college I'd get tagged for my spelling--and being an English major, I write a lot of papers, so normally I use the American variety. If I've been reading a lot of British authors at the time, though, I sometimes start using the British version.

I don't think I've ever written "color" with a U, though. Honour I have. Some words look "more correct" with that extra U to me, although color isn't one of them. I don't know why.

[saku_teiki]

I put "u"s in all the words that need them. XD Except in university papers, because I get marked down for them. T_T