# Sneaked or Snuck? Which is correct? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716 "2008-06-12T18:13:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/1 "2008-06-12T18:13:55Z")
Which word is the proper use for the past-tense of “sneak”? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/2 "2008-06-12T18:29:13Z")
“Sneaked” is considered grammatically correct. However, I think it’s stupid, and I use snuck. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/3 "2008-06-12T18:37:33Z")
**Snuck** (snuk) _colloq. pt. & pp. of_ SNEAK, according to my dictionary. It’s supposed to be sneaked, but sneaked “sounds” funny, to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/4 "2008-06-12T18:39:29Z")
“Sneaked” always sounds funny to me when spoken. “Snuck” always looks funny to me when written. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/5 "2008-06-12T18:50:05Z")
OED entry for _snuck_ > [@](#): > > chiefly U.S. pa. tense and pple. of SNEAK v. In other words, it’s not a question of ‘grammatical correctness’, just differing British and American usage. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/6 "2008-06-13T00:48:27Z")
Both are correct. “Snuck” is the strong form of the verb, in that it uses an internal vowel change to show tense. It’s irregular, and because of that, probably older. “Sneaked” is regular, weak, and probably the newer form. Same as with dove/dived, slew/slayed, and pled/pleaded. Me, I prefer the strong, irregular verb. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/7 "2008-06-13T01:20:15Z")
[QUOTE=phouka] Both are correct. “Snuck” is the strong form of the verb, in that it uses an internal vowel change to show tense. It’s irregular, and because of that, probably older. “Sneaked” is regular, weak, and probably the newer form. [/QUOTE] I believe that in this case, sneaked is the older form. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/8 "2008-06-13T01:24:06Z")
[QUOTE=Red Barchetta] Which word is the proper use for the past-tense of “sneak”? [/QUOTE] The question is, _proper for what_? For a term paper, newspaper article, or State of the Union address, “sneaked” would probably be preferred by most “good” writers of English. In an e-mail to your cousin, conversation with your coworkers around the water cooler, or hollered across your neighbor’s fence, “snuck” would be fine, _if that’s what sounds right to you._ “Snuck” is informal and generally not considered appropriate in formal writing, its presence in dictionaries notwithstanding. But as many people here attest, in less formal settings, “sneaked” appears to sound stilted to many ears. So either can be “proper,” depending on the setting and your personal tastes. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/9 "2008-06-13T02:06:08Z")
[QUOTE=Rysto] I believe that in this case, sneaked is the older form. [/QUOTE] Indeed. It is one of the very rare cases of a regular verb becoming irregular. Ed ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/10 "2008-06-13T02:52:07Z")
I think we should keep discussing strong versus weak verbs until we’ve wrought it to death. Well, where else could I use “wrought” that way? ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/11 "2008-06-13T03:36:03Z")
I wonder, if my carton of milk became punctured somehow, has it leaked, or did it luck? And if I bought lunch for a friend, have I treated her, or have I trut? And if I make a small adjustment to something, have I tweaked it, or have I twuk? And when a mouse makes a little sound, has it squeaked, or has it squuck? If the mouse freaks me out, have I freaked, or have I fruk? But perhaps the sound was not from a mouse: perhaps it was from my door, which might have creaked or might have cruk. Oh, now! 🙂 I was going to say that I don’t at all like “snuck”, but I’m beginning to see that this could be fun. 😃 Ooh, yes, fun! Trut, twuk, squuk, fruk, cruk! And the greatest of these is surely “squuk”. It just is: believe me. For I have SPUK! Anyone for a game of Scrabble? 🙂 I should go off to sleep. And when I come back, I might even have drum. Shit, there will be NO sleep, because I will be running through silly words all the time, like that Thurber story, the name of which escapes me right now. I suppose it has gone from my memory. It must have luk away. And if that hypothetical milk from earlier has flowed all over the kitchen floor, has it streamed, or has it strum? Oh hell, definitely no sleep. But it has been interesting to learn that “snuck” does have some legitimacy. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/12 "2008-06-13T10:38:34Z")
‘snuck’ seems to be seeping into this country, unfortunately. Like, “Veteran” which has also crept in while no one was looking. We don’t have ‘veterans’ (unless they’re cars) we have ex-servicemen. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/13 "2008-06-13T13:21:25Z")
[QUOTE=Celyn] And if I bought lunch for a friend, have I treated her, or have I trut? [/QUOTE] No, no, you trate her. You know, like you ate lunch. Since ate is the past tense of eat, that must mean that all words that end with an “eat” sound must make a past tense by ending with an “ate” sound. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/14 "2008-06-13T13:22:21Z")
I just wish people would stop saying “drug” when they mean “dragged”. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/15 "2008-06-13T13:27:41Z")
I hate the non-word “snuck” with an absolute passion. If someone uses it in conversation with me my estimation of them drops immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/16 "2008-06-13T14:56:33Z")
[QUOTE=Celyn] For I have SPUK! [/QUOTE] No, you’ve _spoken_. Or perhaps you spake? Or spoke? Another strong verb. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/17 "2008-06-13T15:29:19Z")
[QUOTE=Bambi Hassenpfeffer] No, you’ve _spoken_. Or perhaps you spake? Or spoke? Another strong verb. [/QUOTE] _Also Spake Hassenpfeffer_😃 Data point/insight from our good friends at Chicago: > [@§5.202 Good usage versus common usage](#): > > Although this book recommends Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (see bibliog. 3.1), one must use care and judgment in consulting any dictionary. The mere presence of a word in the dictionary’s pages does not mean that the word is in all respects fit for print. The dictionary merely describes how speakers of English use the language; despite occasional usage notes, lexicographers generally disclaim any intent to guide writers and editors on the thorny points of English usage—apart from collecting evidence of what others do. So infer is recorded as meaning, in one of its senses, imply; irregardless may mean regardless; restauranteur may mean restaurateur, and on and on. That is why, in the publishing world, it is generally necessary to consult a usage guide in addition to a dictionary. The standards of good usage make demands on writers and editors, whereas common usage can excuse any number of slipshod expressions. Even so, good usage should make reasonable demands—not set outlandishly high standards. The following glossary sets out the reasonable demands of good usage as it stands today. It focuses on how the terms are commonly misused and is not intended as an exhaustive list of the terms’ definitions and uses. > > […snip…] > > **sneak** : This verb is conjugated _sneak–sneaked–sneaked_. Reserve _snuck_ for dialect and tongue-in-cheek usages. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/18 "2008-06-13T15:56:03Z")
Fack you all (that’s the correct indicative, right?) I do see “frak” appearing on the intertubes these days. I kind of like it. (BSG word) ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/19 "2008-06-13T17:07:42Z")
[QUOTE=Mk VII] ‘snuck’ seems to be seeping into this country, unfortunately. [QUOTE] Why you got to be hatin’ the strong, irregular dialect? Wha’d it _ever_ do to you? > [@Otto](#): > > I hate the non-word “snuck” with an absolute passion. What are you talking about? It’s a perfectly cromulent word! [sub]snuck snuck snuck snuck snuck snuck snuck snuck[/sub] Seriously, it’s a dialectical variation. There is no one, true version of the English language, and “snuck” communicates its meaning just as well as “sneaked”. People who use it are not somehow less intelligent or deserving, though they may be more flexible, tolerant, and euphonic. Says me, who uses “snuck,” “drug,” and “brang” when in full native dialectical mode. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716/20 "2008-06-13T17:34:36Z")
[QUOTE=phouka] Seriously, it’s a dialectical variation. There is no one, true version of the English language, and “snuck” communicates its meaning just as well as “sneaked”. People who use it are not somehow less intelligent or deserving, though they may be more flexible, tolerant, and euphonic. [/QUOTE] Not only that, it’s used commonly enough in more formal forms of English, like the press. Doing a quick search through the AP archives on [ap.org](http://ap.org), “snuck” appears 513 times, and “sneaked” appears 1460 times. So “snuck” is certainly less preferred, but it’s hardly rare, making up over a quarter of the instances of the past tense of “to sneak.” If you’re making character and education judgments based on the usage of the word “snuck,” well I feel a little bit sorry for you. But not really. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneaked-or-snuck-which-is-correct/452716.md?page=2)