It seems against common laws of language evolution for a regular verb like “sneak” (sneak, sneaked, have sneaked) to turn into an irregular verb (sneak, snuck, have snuck).
From the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition:
Usage Note: “Snuck” is an Americanism first introduced in the 19th century as a nonstandard regional variant of “sneaked”. Widespread use of “snuck” has become more common with every generation. It is now used by educated speakers in all regions. Formal written English is more conservative than other varieties, of course, and here “snuck” still meets with much resistance. Many writers and editors have a lingering unease about the form, particularly if they recall its nonstandard origins. And 67 percent of the Usage Panel disapproved of “snuck” in our 1988 survey. Nevertheless, an examination of recent sources shows that “snuck” is sneaking up on “sneaked”. “Snuck” was almost 20 percent more common in newspaper articles published in 1995 than it was in 1985. “Snuck” also appears in the work of many respected columnists and authors: “He ran up huge hotel bills and then snuck out without paying” (George Stade). “He had snuck away from camp with a cabinmate” (Anne Tyler). “I ducked down behind the paperbacks and snuck out” (Garrison Keillor).
margueritem over 15 years ago
Ah, such heart warming momentos.
runar over 15 years ago
What happens if you drop a memento into a bottle of diet Coke?
limarick over 15 years ago
Why aren’t the corsage and the dog on the same page?
pschearer Premium Member over 15 years ago
It seems against common laws of language evolution for a regular verb like “sneak” (sneak, sneaked, have sneaked) to turn into an irregular verb (sneak, snuck, have snuck).
From the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition:
Usage Note: “Snuck” is an Americanism first introduced in the 19th century as a nonstandard regional variant of “sneaked”. Widespread use of “snuck” has become more common with every generation. It is now used by educated speakers in all regions. Formal written English is more conservative than other varieties, of course, and here “snuck” still meets with much resistance. Many writers and editors have a lingering unease about the form, particularly if they recall its nonstandard origins. And 67 percent of the Usage Panel disapproved of “snuck” in our 1988 survey. Nevertheless, an examination of recent sources shows that “snuck” is sneaking up on “sneaked”. “Snuck” was almost 20 percent more common in newspaper articles published in 1995 than it was in 1985. “Snuck” also appears in the work of many respected columnists and authors: “He ran up huge hotel bills and then snuck out without paying” (George Stade). “He had snuck away from camp with a cabinmate” (Anne Tyler). “I ducked down behind the paperbacks and snuck out” (Garrison Keillor).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2002, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Nebulous Premium Member over 15 years ago
@pschearer Could we reverse that type of trend to properly derive the verb “feak”? ;)
carmy over 15 years ago
The dog followed her and snuck in TOO?
mrprongs over 15 years ago
“What happens if you drop a memento into a bottle of diet Coke?”
It gets wet.