leaned v. leant

MarkEsq

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• Nov 15, 2008

• #1

As in:

[FONT=&quot]Hugo Marston leaned / leant on the stone balustrade of Pont Neuf and gazed down at the River Seine.

Which is correct?

Thanks!
[/FONT]

 

RobJ

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• Nov 15, 2008

• #2

In the UK leaned and leant are both fine. I believe only the former is correct in the USA. (According to my dictionary at any rate).

Cheers,
Rob

 

FennelGiraffe

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• Nov 15, 2008

• #3

I believe that's one of those US/UK differences.

Ah...http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91035

 

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• Nov 15, 2008

• #4

In the US use leaned. See leant.

This is one of those rare differences where it was a specific decision--by Noah Webster, in his speller, and then in the dictionary, to deprecate leant as possibly being confused with "lent"--I lent you money last week.