Sneaking up on Snuck

Sneaking up on Snuck Sneaking up on Snuck Sneaking up on Snuck By Maeve Maddox A reader asks: Could you tell me which is more appropriate or how it is used: snuck vs sneeked   He snuck across the border. The word snuck as the simple past of sneak is regarded with disdain by many speakers and writers. The correct principal parts, they will argue, are: sneak/sneaked/(have) sneaked: Lets watch him sneak out of the dorm. He sneaked out last night as well. He has sneaked out every night this week. In other English-speaking parts of the world, the past form snuck, if acknowledged at all, is usually labeled jocular. Personally, I like snuck. To my ear sneaked does not sound right. Somehow snuck seems sneakier than sneaked. For me the principal parts are sneak/snuck/(have) snuck. Admittedly snuck is not a word for formal writing. If I were reaching for the same sense in a context that did not permit of sneak/snuck, Id resort to creep/crept. (No, not creep/creeped. ) To get an idea of just how acceptable snuck is in American usage, I went to two newspapers I admire: the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. New York Times it’s not going to work. The financial industry is not going to get away with a covert bailout, snuck past voters with obscure wording. Paul Krugman, March 17, 2008 The Rangers nearly snuck out of here with a victory, but Bure again knotted things up Jason Diamos, December 10, 1995 Mr. Wilkins, in a plaid shirt and handcuffs, snuck occasional looks at the photographs before him. Joe Sexton, February 9, 1995 Chicago Tribune Christine Rokita, a parishioner at Brandts church, couldnt agree more. Her son Matthew, 17, a junior at St. Rita Catholic High School, snuck out to the parade this year against his mothers wishes. Stacy St. Clair and Andrew L. Wang, March 26, 2009 Wade then somehow snuck free for that reverse layupand also somehow missed it. K.C. Johnson, March 10, 2009 We sneaked Demasi out the back door. John Kass, February 28, 2009 In this unscientific sampling of American journalists, the snucks clearly have it! How Shrunk Snuck In Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Types of Narrative Conflict50 Latin Phrases You Should Know12 Misunderstood and Misquoted Shakespearean Expressions