Maintaining consistency in academic writing is of utmost importance. This requires ensuring coherence and clarity in the spelling throughout the paper. However, many students find it challenging to distinguish between British vs. American English, leading to confusion when deciding whether to use words like “dreamt” or “dreamed”. For a better understanding of the differences between these two styles of English, continue reading.
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“Dreamt” or “dreamed”
“Dreamt/dreamed” is the past tense of the verb “to dream” and is an irregular verb in English. It is used to describe the act of having had a dream while asleep. Both “dreamt” and “dreamed” are commonly used in British English, while in US English, “dreamed” is the standard form. “Dreamt/dreamed” is a verb in its past tense form.
British English
dreamt
dreamed
American English
dreamed
As you can see, there only exists one correct spelling in American English, but there are two possible spellings in British English. Generally, the spelling with an “-ed” at the end is far more common form.
Examples of using “dreamt” and “dreamed”
The following examples will illustrate the difference in spelling of the word “dreamt/dreamed” in British and American English.
- Last night, I dreamt/dreamed that I was flying through the clouds.
- She dreamt/dreamed of becoming an astronaut.
- They dreamt/dreamed of owning their own business one day.
- Last night, I dreamed that I was flying through the clouds.
- She dreamed of becoming an astronaut when she was a child.
- They dreamed of owning their own business one day.
“Dreamt” or “dreamed” in the “-ing” form
When using the verb “dreamt/dreamed” in its “-ing” form, the proper spelling of the word is “dreaming” for British and American English.
- British English: “Dreaming”
- American English: “Dreaming”
The following examples will illustrate the use of the word “dreaming.”
Examples
- She was caught dreaming during the class and had to write lines.
- I love dreaming about the future and what it could hold.
- Sometimes the world feels overwhelming, and I find comfort in dreaming.
FAQs
In the UK, both “dreamt” and “dreamed” are used, but “dreamt” is slightly more common in British English.
Both “dreamt” and “dreamed” are correct past tense forms of the verb “dream”. “Dreamed” is the more common form, especially in American English, while “dreamt” is more commonly used in British English. Both forms are correct, and which one to use can depend on the context and the writer’s personal preference.
Dreaming is spelled D-R-E-A-M-I-N-G.
Both “I dreamt about you” and “I dreamed about you” are correct. Although “I dreamed about you” is more commonly used in American English, while “I dreamt about you” is more commonly used in British English.