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Mon 28 Jul, 2003 01:11 pm
I'm confused, when do you use payed/paid? If someone could write back, I would really appreciate it.
Thank you!
They are both interchangeable. No big deal. Just be consistent when you use one spelling. c.i.
Actually, I'm not sure, having seen 'payed' before (that much).
(Would it be 'layed' as well?
)
No Walter, it's only laid. c.i.
I thought it was only "paid" too, but this seems to indicate you can sometimes say "payed":
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=payed&r=67
I overwhelmingly use and see "paid" over "payed."
I have never seen that on an irregular verb list... oh well.
I was also surprised to see "payed" listed in the dictionary as an alternative spelling for "paid". I can't think of any time it should be used.
and it is rarely, if ever, used.
D'artagnan wrote:I was also surprised to see "payed" listed in the dictionary as an alternative spelling for "paid". I can't think of any time it should be used.
There's hardly ever a reason for most irregular alternatives to regular verbs.
But still a surprise.
Payed for by the addicts of Hooked on Phonics.
Butrfly, If that was the only problem with the English language, most of us would be very happy.
c.i.
Hi 143, The best advice I can give you is to use paid all the time. Payed is a rare word, and most people who see it will think it's a mistake.
PAYED . . .
When you pay out an anchor . . . or pay out a rope, etc., . . . you have PAYED it (or them) out. In this instance, PAID cannot be use correctly. (PAY: Allow to run out, lengthen, slacken, etc.)[/color]
Merriam-Webster's online says either is acceptable for this sense...
Quote:Main Entry: pay
Pronunciation: 'pA
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): paid /'pAd/; also in sense 7 payed; pay·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French paier, from Latin pacare to pacify, from pac-, pax peace
Date: 13th century
transitive senses
1 a : to make due return to for services rendered or property delivered b : to engage for money : HIRE <you couldn't pay me to do that>
here I delete definitions 2-6
7 : to slacken (as a rope) and allow to run out -- used with out
Thanks for the links, Soz. In the entries posted in those links, the American Heritage Dictionary entry would seem to indicate that payed is used only in the sense of 'payed out a length of rope.' (The other dictionary entries, however, don't seem to make this fine distinction.)
Aha, a specialized use for "payed." Just like the specialized use of the verb "fly" in baseball. "He flied out to right" is good baseball talk, but I don't think the term is used this way in nonbaseball English.
hang's variations are another example of specialized use of irregular form.
'twould make more sense if it's for specialized use.
Now that I think of it, I have seen 'payed out' used in that specialized sense, but it just looks wrong in a sentence such as 'I payed the bill with my credit card.' I'm surprised that the other dictionary links don't seem to be making this distinction.
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