Learned vs. Learnt: What’s the Difference?

Both learned and learnt are past tense and past participle forms of the verb learn.

The difference is mainly regional — learned is used in American English, while learnt is more common in British English.

Let’s look at how to use them correctly.

Learned (American English & Formal Use)

Meaning

“Learned” is the standard past tense and past participle form in American English.
It’s also used in British English when writing formally or academically.

Examples (10 total)

1. I learned a lot from that experience.
2. She learned how to play the guitar.
3. They learned the hard way not to be late.
4. He learned English at an early age.
5. We learned something new in class today.
6. I learned from my mistakes.
7. The students learned to work together.
8. She learned the truth yesterday.
9. Have you learned about climate change yet?
10. He learned his lesson after that accident.

🧠 Tip:
If you’re writing for a U.S. audience or want a formal tone, use learned.

Learnt (British English & Informal Use)

Meaning

“Learnt” is more common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
It’s often used in informal writing or speech.
Both learnt and learned are correct in the UK — it’s mostly a style choice.

Examples (10 total)

1. I learnt so much during my trip to London.
2. She learnt French in school.
3. They learnt to drive on the left side of the road.
4. He learnt from his parents’ advice.
5. We learnt that honesty is the best policy.
6. I learnt about this from a friend.
7. She learnt to swim at a young age.
8. The children learnt a song for the play.
9. Have you learnt your lines for the performance?
10. He learnt how to bake bread during lockdown.

🧠 Tip:
If your audience uses British English, learnt is perfectly natural.

Special Case: “Learned” (as an Adjective)

Besides being a verb, “learned” (pronounced lur-nid) can also be an adjective meaning knowledgeable or educated.

Examples

1. She’s a learned professor of philosophy.
2. The judge was a learned scholar.
3. He gave a learned speech on law and ethics.

📘 Note:
The adjective “learned” never takes the spelling “learnt.”

Quick Comparison Table

How to Remember the Difference

👉 Learned = American, formal, or adjective.
👉 Learnt = British, casual, and conversational.

💡 Memory Trick:

If you “earnt” it, you “learnt” it — both are British forms ending in -t.

Why AI Tools Mix Them Up

AI writing models often switch between learned and learnt based on the training data’s region.
That’s why Humanizey helps detect the correct regional tone automatically — ensuring your writing fits your audience perfectly.

FAQs

1. Is “learnt” wrong?

No, it’s just less common in American English. Both are correct.

2. Can I use “learned” in British English?

Yes, learned is also fine — especially in formal or academic writing.

3. What’s the difference in pronunciation?

As a verb, both are pronounced /lɜːrnd/.
As an adjective, “learned” is pronounced /ˈlɜːnɪd/ (two syllables).

4. Should I pick one spelling and stick to it?

Yes — be consistent based on your target audience or brand style.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Learned” or “Learnt”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. I ___ to cook from my grandmother.
2. She’s a ___ woman with many degrees.
3. We ___ our lesson after that mistake.
4. Have you ___ about the new update?
5. The students ___ how to use the new app.
6. He’s one of the most ___ scientists of his time.
7. I ___ that honesty always pays off.
8. They ___ Spanish while living in Madrid.
9. The team ___ from last year’s failure.
10. She ___ in university about modern history.

Answers

1. learned / learnt
2. learned
3. learned / learnt
4. learned / learnt
5. learned / learnt
6. learned
7. learned / learnt
8. learned / learnt
9. learned / learnt
10. learned / learnt