Hanged vs Hung

[OnceUponAMidnightBeery]

I’m embarrassed to admit that DH has just asked me this and I’m not sure. I know the common usage, but I can’t define why it is correct in simple words.

‘He was hanged’ vs ‘he was hung’ both past tense... but ‘he hung his hat’ not ‘he hanged his hat’

Please help oh wise pedants of MN

People are hanged, clothes are hung.

People are hanged, clothes are hung.

^^ This

I think hanged is the past tense of hung when it mean means executed and hung is past tense for other meanings of hang eg to hang a painting.

Damn! Thought I'd proofread. My first "hung" should have read "hang".

Thank you!! I knew you lovely people wouldn’t let me down

Unless someone's hung like a horse, of course...

We always learnt at school people are hanged pictures are hung

To hang is an irregular verb so we should use hung, however we don't like to describe people as objects so to make killing another human being more palatable we use 'hanged' instead of 'hung' (like the washing or a picture).

I have a similar one that I always struggle with - burned and burnt. Also learned and learnt which I suspect has the same rule!

I knew you lovely people wouldn’t let me down
I'd hope someone would let me down were I being hanged. .

It is burnt, I burned it

Thank you JakesMum88

A person can be hung, as it is quite correct to say that a person was hung, drawn and quartered as a punishment. The hanging element of that punishment isn’t intended to kill them though, they should still be alive when they are drawn.

The finality of executing someone by hanging means that they were hanged, not hung.

@Watto1

I have a similar one that I always struggle with - burned and burnt. Also learned and learnt which I suspect has the same rule!

No, they are just both possible (like dreamt/dreamed)

sped / speeded is another weird one

@Cattenberg

People are hanged, clothes are hung.

unless they are well hung

Great quote in thrones about this:

“Father had only gone out to ransom Petyr Pimple. He brought them the gold they asked for, but they hung him anyway.”
“Hanged, Ami. Your father was not a tapestry.”
A Feast for Crows, Chapter 30, Jaime IV.

Equally; it is burned, I burnt it it would be ok @jakesmum88
Ed tends to be the american spelling whilst t is uk

@Queenoftheashes

Great quote in thrones about this:

“Father had only gone out to ransom Petyr Pimple. He brought them the gold they asked for, but they hung him anyway.”
“Hanged, Ami. Your father was not a tapestry.”
A Feast for Crows, Chapter 30, Jaime IV.