Shrank / Shrunk

Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse writers. I have found the following to be among them:

SHRANK / SHRUNK

Far too many times recently I have heard or read the word shrunk to mean shrank. Think back to the third grade and try to remember:

SHRINK, SHRANK, SHRUNK

Present: I often shrink T-shirts in the wash. T-shirts shrink today just as easily as they did years ago.

Past: I shrank a T-shirt in the wash yesterday. T-shirts shrank in the wash years ago, too.

Perfect: I have shrunk many T-shirts in the wash over the past few years. This T-shirt has shrunk so much that I can no longer fit into it.

 

© 2016 Ann Henry. All Rights Reserved.

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