Sneaked vs. Snuck: What’s the Difference?

Both sneaked and snuck are correct past tenses of sneak, meaning “to move quietly or secretly.”

The difference lies in formality, history, and region:

• Sneaked is the traditional and formal form.
• Snuck is informal and modern, mostly used in American English.

Let’s look at how they developed and when to use each.

Sneaked: The Original and Formal Form

Meaning

“Sneaked” is the older, standard past tense of sneak.
It’s grammatically correct everywhere and works best in formal writing or professional contexts.

Examples (10 total)

1. He sneaked out of the room quietly.
2. She sneaked a note into my locker.
3. The cat sneaked behind the curtain.
4. They sneaked into the theater without tickets.
5. He sneaked away before anyone noticed.
6. We sneaked a look at the answers.
7. The thief sneaked through the window.
8. I sneaked a piece of cake from the fridge.
9. She sneaked her phone under the desk.
10. The kids sneaked into the kitchen for snacks.

🧠 Tip:
If you’re writing formally (essays, reports, business emails), use sneaked.

Snuck: The Informal and Modern Form

Meaning

“Snuck” appeared in American English in the 1800s as a colloquial variation of sneaked.
It’s now widely accepted in casual speech and informal writing, though it began as slang.

Examples (10 total)

1. He snuck out during the movie.
2. She snuck a cookie when no one was looking.
3. They snuck into the concert without paying.
4. The dog snuck into the bedroom.
5. I snuck past the security guard.
6. We snuck a peek at the surprise gift.
7. The student snuck his phone into class.
8. He snuck out after midnight.
9. She snuck onto the balcony for a call.
10. The kids snuck extra candy into the cart.

🧠 Tip:
Use snuck in everyday conversation, storytelling, or creative writing — it sounds more natural and expressive.

Quick Comparison Table

How to Remember the Difference

👉 Sneaked = Safe, standard, school-approved.
👉 Snuck = Slangy, smooth, sounds American.

💡 Memory Trick:

If you want to sound formal — “She sneaked away.”
If you’re telling a story — “She snuck away.”

Grammar Tip

Both are accepted in modern dictionaries (Oxford, Merriam-Webster, Cambridge).
However, sneaked remains the preferred choice in formal English exams and official documents.

Why People Confuse Them

Snuck became popular through American speech, movies, and pop culture.
It sounds catchy and fits naturally in dialogue, so many people assume it’s the only form.
Even AI or autocorrect tools may miss the context — which is why Humanizey helps refine tone and word choice automatically for perfect, natural English.

FAQs

1. Is “snuck” grammatically correct?

Yes. It’s informal but widely accepted, especially in the U.S. and Canada.

2. Is “sneaked” wrong?

No — it’s the original and still the most correct in formal contexts.

3. Which form should I use in writing?

Use sneaked in formal or academic writing, and snuck in casual or creative writing.

4. Do British people use “snuck”?

Rarely. British English prefers sneaked.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Sneaked” or “Snuck”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. She quietly ___ out of the classroom.
2. He ___ his phone under the pillow.
3. The kids ___ into the pool after dark.
4. I ___ past the teacher without being seen.
5. They ___ snacks into the movie theater.
6. The cat ___ up behind the bird.
7. He ___ out to surprise his friends.
8. We ___ a peek at the test questions.
9. She ___ into the kitchen late at night.
10. The thief ___ out before anyone noticed.

Answers

1. sneaked / snuck
2. sneaked / snuck
3. snuck
4. sneaked
5. snuck
6. sneaked
7. snuck
8. snuck
9. sneaked
10. sneaked