“Born” and “borne” are both related to “bear,” but modern usage separates them. “Born” is used in birth expressions, while “borne” covers other participial senses such as being carried, supported, or endured.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Use “born” for birth; use “borne” for most other past-participle senses of “bear.”
Key details
Confusion Familylexical-confusion
Rule Familyword-choice
Termsborn, borne
Further guidance
Core difference
“Born” is the form normally used with “be” for coming into life; “borne” is the past participle of “bear” in other senses such as carried, supported, or endured.
Usage Boundary
Write “She was born in June,” but “The cost was borne by the company” and “He has borne the strain.”
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.
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