Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Grammar Girl, Grammar Girl's, QDnow, and Quick and Dirty Tips are all trademarks of Macmillan Holdings, LLC. A memory trick for the traditional rules. Robin Houghton grammar One acceptable use of 'loan' as a verb here in the UK is with regard to library books, although it's usually the compound verb 'to loan out', as in 'they've loaned out their last copy of 'Pride & Prejudice'so I couldn't get it'. But I'm sure I've heard (and said) things like 'the library wasn't able to loan me a copy as they said it was on reserve.' http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=15866#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=15866#Comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:51:12 GMT Susan grammar Perhaps I should move to the U.K. I cringe whenever I hear loan used as a verb, and I am quite shocked to read that it is apparently acceptable to use it that way in the U.S. I think it makes Americans sound ignorant, plus it just sounds wrong! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13132#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13132#Comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:20:20 GMT Opher grammar I just had to share this with the top-notch grammarians we all are : "A retired Los Angeles police officer paralyzed when his 3-year-old son fired his father's handgun while riding in the family pickup in Anaheim two years ago filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the gun's manufacturer." (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_2089579.php) Does the world really need one sentence opening paragraphs that are this busy? Even if it is "properly" written, it's poor writing. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13110#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13110#Comments Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:46:04 GMT Len grammar Hey, LaVonne. I also hear people sometimes use the verb borrow as you mention. It's usually because they're not native English speakers, and are translating from their own language. In languages such as Dutch, it's the same word (lenen). http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13109#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13109#Comments Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:22:27 GMT Grammar Girl grammar Hi, Opher. Nothing changed with the feed as far as I know. It did download automatically for me. Hi, Len. An international version? It's a great idea, but I'm barely keeping up with the new two-show per week schedule (and the new quiz widget)! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13101#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13101#Comments Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:13:49 GMT Len grammar Hi, Grammar Girl. I agree about busting grammar myths - if a rule is not good, it should go. I was brought up where it wasn't a myth to use loan as a noun and lend as a verb - it was a rule. And luckily, it will stay one :-) So I'm happy to continue using those words in that fashion. Because you have such interesting stuff in your episodes, perhaps you could consider one version for America and another version for your international audience ;-) http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13099#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13099#Comments Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:16:39 GMT LaVonne grammar This topic made me think of something that I am hearing more and more often. Instead of saying, "loan me that pen," "lend me that pen," or "let me borrow that pen," I have noticed people saying, "borrow me that pen." Ugh! http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13097#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13097#Comments Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:51:55 GMT Opher Banarie grammar This episode did not automatically appear in my iTunes library. I had to "get episode" from the iTunes Store in order to get the file. Anyone else have similar problems? Did something change on the feed? http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13095#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13095#Comments Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:16:14 GMT Grammar Girl grammar Hi, Len. I often struggle with these kinds of topics. I'm strongly opposed to perpetuating grammar myths, and the idea that people in America *must* use loan only as a noun is certainly a myth. But you're right that it is easier to stick with that rule because it's simple and you don't risk upsetting people who don't know it's a myth. Ultimately, with topics like this, I believe it is important to point out that there are multiple acceptable ways to do it, otherwise I'd be creating more misguided sticklers. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13092#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13092#Comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:10:50 GMT Len grammar Interesting points. But I can think of an even easier way to remember which word to use. Rather than worry about who might end up reading your text (especially in this internet age, where your words can be read everywhere), why not just get into the habit of always using loan as a noun and lend as a verb? It's correct, it always makes sense, and even the persnickety professors will be happy. http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13088#Comments http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx?commentid=13088#Comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:29:55 GMT Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:51:12 GMT http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/loan-versus-lend.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us