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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

The couple ‘got wed’ or ‘got wedded’ on Saturday?

From The Punch · () English

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At a glance

Explainer Sources not specified Context piece
  • The English language allows both 'wed' and 'wedded' as past and participle forms of the verb 'to wed'.
  • 'Newlywed' is the correct noun form for a person who has just married, while 'newly-wed' is used as an adjective.
  • The article also clarifies common errors related to 'wedding ceremony' and the use of 'couple'.

In English grammar, the verb 'to wed,' meaning to get married, presents a common point of confusion regarding its past tense and past participle forms. Both 'wed' and 'wedded' are considered correct. The Cambridge Dictionary notes that 'wed' is used especially in newspapers to describe people getting married.

If two people wed, or one person weds another, they get married, used especially in newspapers.

· Cambridge DictionaryThe Cambridge Dictionary's definition of the verb 'wed'.

Examples provided illustrate this usage: "The couple eventually wed after an 18-year engagement," and "Raised in Chicago, she wed her college sweetheart in 1949." This indicates that whether one 'gets wed' or 'gets wedded,' both constructions are grammatically sound, reflecting the irregular nature of the verb.

Further clarification is offered on related terms. 'Newlywed' is the appropriate noun form for a person who has just married, with 'newlyweds' as its plural. When used as an adjective, the correct form is 'newly-wed,' as in 'the newly-wed couple.'

The couple eventually wed after an 18-year engagement.

· Cambridge DictionaryAn example sentence provided by the Cambridge Dictionary illustrating the use of 'wed'.

The article also addresses common errors associated with weddings. Using 'wedding ceremony' is considered tautological, as 'wedding' itself implies a ceremony; therefore, 'wedding' is sufficient. Additionally, 'couple' refers to the pair getting married, not an individual. For instance, stating 'Lizzy was a couple at the wedding' is incorrect; she would be part of the couple.

Raised in Chicago, she wed her college sweetheart in 1949.

· Cambridge DictionaryAnother example sentence from the Cambridge Dictionary using 'wed'.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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