Spun vs. Span
“Spin” has variable past-tense evidence but a stable past participle: “spun” works as past tense and past participle, while “span” is recorded as a UK past-tense variant. This makes tense and region both relevant.
“Spun” is the standard past participle of “spin” and is also a standard past tense. Cambridge also records “span” as a UK past-tense variant, so the forms are not interchangeable in every grammatical slot.
Key details
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “spun” safely for both simple past and past participle; “span” is a UK past-tense variant, not the regular past participle.
Fast Test
After have/has/had, choose “spun.” In simple-past UK usage, “span” can occur alongside “spun.”
Usage Boundary
Because “span” is also an unrelated noun/verb, sentence context matters when interpreting the form.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Spin — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Learner-dictionary evidence for “spun” and the UK past-tense variant “span,” with “spun” as past participle.