Tuesday, February 09, 2021

Forecasting

More than once recently, I have been somewhat jarred to come across the word, forecasted, when people have been writing of weather forecasts from the past. By this I mean just the recent past: such as: The weather is fine this Tuesday, even though it was forecasted to be rainy

You see, I have never added the 'ed' ending to the past tense of forecast, and it just didn't feel right when I read it.

This sent me to my search engine whereupon I immediately discovered that both forms are acceptable.


I have to wonder if the usage is a regional thing, but perhaps it isn't regional but just personal. However, since I have never noticed before, I also wonder if by and large if Canadians tend toward forecast while Americans add the ed.

Which variation do you use?




23 comments:

  1. Interesting & timely. I normally would use forecast, but I started seeing forecasted & though oh my I've been spelling/using incorrectly & changed to forecasted. Now I feel quite comfortable to return to forecast - thanks for researching.

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  2. No 'ed'. My high school English teacher's ghost would haunt me.

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  3. Now that you bring it to my attention, I find no memory of either way of saying it. I think I probably just use said, for the weatherpeople said.Now I'll be more aware!

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  4. Not something I ever paid attention to. Now I will have to.

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  5. Depends on the context. If I want to draw attention to a mistaken forecast, I might use the "ed." Otherwise, I use it just without since it doesn't change the meaning either way.

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  6. Added the ed always.

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  7. I would use forecast, always have. But when one sees forecasted often (as one does) it would be easy to conclude that adding the "ed" was correct, since it aligns with general practice for other verbs. English must be a nightmare to learn as a second language!

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  8. I definitely favor forecasted.

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  9. I never use the -ed and it sounds strange to me.

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  10. For me, it feels much more natural to say "had been forecast", but I suppose language is always changing.

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  11. Thanks for the info. I always used forecast.

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  12. I rarely use the word, but probably would resort to forecasted.

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  13. Response to Mr. Gascoigne. I am an ESL teacher, and it is. Unlike many other languages, there is no logic to most of it. None. Strong men are cast down. Little kids, on the other hand, do just fine, even if you have to train them out of saying 'goed' and 'eated'.

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  14. Forecast, definitely.
    When fishing, you might say I CAST the line, not I CASTED the line.
    Not that has anything to do with weather!

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  15. Without the -ed ending for certain. It sounds right and the other version sounds wrong.

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  16. I've only used forecast. No additions to the word.

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  17. Forecast: present and past tense.

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  18. Anonymous10:26 pm

    forecast the ed seems unnecessary

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  19. No "-ed." Hmph. "Forecasted" makes me as ill as "gifted" standing in for "gave a present."

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  20. So odd.... I commented three times yesterday and my comments would not post.

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  21. My comment did not take either. Forecast without the -ed. The 'was' indicates past tense

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