English UsageComparison guide

Quit vs. Quitted

Modern English normally uses “quit” unchanged for the past tense and past participle. “Quitted” remains a documented form, particularly in British and older/formal usage, so it is not an error but is usually a marked choice.

Quick answer

“Quit” is the normal modern past tense and past participle in general use; “quitted” is also recorded, especially in British English and older or more formal leave/depart senses.

Key details

Confusion Familyregional and historical verb-form variation
Rule Familyverb forms
Termsquit, quitted
Variant ScopeCambridge gives quit as the modern past and participle; Collins also records quitted, especially in British English and older/formal leave/depart uses.

Further guidance

Core difference

“Quit” is the normal modern past tense and past participle in general use; “quitted” is also recorded, especially in British English and older or more formal leave/depart senses.

Fast Test

For ordinary sentences such as leaving a job or stopping an activity, “quit” is the safest general form. Use “quitted” only when the regional, historical, or stylistic context supports it.

Regional Boundary

Cambridge’s current learner entry uses “quit” for past and participle. Collins records “quitted” or, mainly in US English, “quit,” so “quitted” is valid but much less neutral for ordinary modern prose.

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.

  1. Quit — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Modern verb senses of quit
  2. QUIT — Collins English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)HarperCollins Publishers · Dictionary evidence that modern quit is normally unchanged while British English also records quitted as a form

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