With the passing of another year and the arrival of a new one, I thought it fit to discuss the difference between passed and past. Long time fans of this blog will know my emphasis between written English and spoken English. So what I’m about to say won’t surprise them.
Many poor writers write poorly because they do not distinguish written English from spoken English. They assume that written English is simply transcribed speech. That’s a poor assumption because written English and spoken English are two different animals! And those who hold poor assumptions generally get poor results.
Here’s one reason for the distinction between written and spoken English. Many words that function differently sound the same. The words passed and past provide a great example. Passed functions as a verb, but past functions as a noun, adjective, or preposition.
Observe the example sentence in the graphic above. The word past is used incorrectly. The intended word functions as a verb, but past never functions as a verb. The correct word is passed, and so the corrected sentence would appear as follows:
Many poor writers write poorly because they do not distinguish written English from spoken English. They assume that written English is simply transcribed speech. That’s a poor assumption because written English and spoken English are two different animals! And those who hold poor assumptions generally get poor results.
Here’s one reason for the distinction between written and spoken English. Many words that function differently sound the same. The words passed and past provide a great example. Passed functions as a verb, but past functions as a noun, adjective, or preposition.
Observe the example sentence in the graphic above. The word past is used incorrectly. The intended word functions as a verb, but past never functions as a verb. The correct word is passed, and so the corrected sentence would appear as follows:
Although Lot #XF76 passed the quality control inspection, the previous three lots did not.
Subtle difference? Sure. But often it’s the little things that make all the difference. When it comes to your writing, make sure you attend to the little things that can make all the difference. Learn the distinctions between spoken English and written English. Your writing will communicate more effectively, and the image that portrays of both you and your organization will improve accordingly.
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