Creeped vs Crept: Similarities, Differences, and Proper Use

Are you confused about whether to use “creeped” or “crept”? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This article will provide clarity on the proper usage of these two words.

Firstly, “crept” is the proper past tense and past participle of the verb “creep.” It means to move slowly and quietly, often in a way that is intended to avoid being noticed. For example, “The cat crept up on the mouse.”

On the other hand, “creeped” is a nonstandard variation of “crept.” While it is becoming more common in informal usage, it is still considered incorrect in formal writing. It means the same thing as “crept,” but is not considered the proper form of the word.

Throughout the rest of this article, we will explore the origins of these words, their usage in different contexts, and some common mistakes to avoid when using them.

Define Creeped

Creeped, the past tense of the verb “creep,” is a colloquial term used to refer to the act of moving slowly and stealthily, often with the intention of being unnoticed. It can also be used to describe a feeling of unease or discomfort, as in “I was creeped out by the strange noises coming from the basement.”

Creeped is often used in informal settings, such as in conversation or in social media posts. It is not typically used in formal writing, where the more standard past tense form “crept” is preferred.

Define Crept

Crept is the past tense of the verb “creep,” and is used to describe the act of moving slowly and stealthily, often with the intention of being unnoticed. It is a more formal term than “creeped,” and is typically used in formal writing, such as academic papers or professional reports.

Crept can also be used to describe a gradual or subtle change or movement, as in “The price of the stock crept up over the course of the day.” It can also be used in a figurative sense to describe a feeling of unease or discomfort, as in “A sense of dread crept over me as I entered the dark, abandoned building.”

How To Properly Use The Words In A Sentence

When it comes to using words in a sentence, it’s important to understand their meanings and how they can be used correctly. One common source of confusion for many people is the difference between “creeped” and “crept.” Here’s a guide on how to use these words properly in a sentence.

How To Use “Creeped” In A Sentence

“Creeped” is the past tense of the verb “creep.” This word is used to describe the action of moving slowly and quietly, often in a way that is intended to avoid being noticed. Here are some examples of how to use “creeped” in a sentence:

• She creeped up behind me and scared me.
• The spider creeped along the wall.
• I was creeped out by the strange noise in the dark.

When using “creeped” in a sentence, it’s important to remember that it should only be used as the past tense of “creep.” Using it in other contexts, such as as an adjective or noun, is not correct.

How To Use “Crept” In A Sentence

“Crept” is also the past tense of the verb “creep.” However, it is used in a slightly different way than “creeped.” “Crept” is used to describe the action of moving slowly and quietly, often in a way that is intended to avoid being noticed, but with a greater emphasis on the action being completed. Here are some examples of how to use “crept” in a sentence:

• He crept up to the door and listened for a moment.
• The cat crept closer to the mouse.
• I crept out of the room so as not to wake the baby.

When using “crept” in a sentence, it’s important to remember that it should only be used as the past tense of “creep.” Using it in other contexts, such as as an adjective or noun, is not correct.

More Examples Of Creeped & Crept Used In Sentences

In this section, we will explore more examples of using the words “creeped” and “crept” in sentences. While both words are forms of the verb “creep,” they have different connotations and are used in different contexts. Let’s take a closer look.

Examples Of Using “Creeped” In A Sentence

• The sound of footsteps creeped me out.
• She creeped around the corner and surprised me.
• He creeped up behind me and scared me.
• The spider creeped along the wall.
• The thought of being alone in the dark creeped her out.
• The movie creeped me out so much that I couldn’t sleep.
• The feeling of someone watching me creeped me out.
• The sound of the old house settling creeped her out.
• The idea of being in a haunted house creeped her out.
• The way he looked at her creeped her out.

As you can see from these examples, “creeped” is often used to describe a feeling of unease or discomfort. It can also be used to describe the movement of something or someone in a slow and stealthy manner.

Examples Of Using “Crept” In A Sentence

• The cat crept up to the bird feeder.
• The sun had crept below the horizon.
• He crept out of the room so as not to wake anyone.
• The fog crept in from the sea.
• The thief crept into the house in the middle of the night.
• The vines crept up the side of the building.
• The darkness crept closer and closer.
• The snow had crept up to the windowsill overnight.
• She crept into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.
• The shadow crept across the room as the sun set.

“Crept,” on the other hand, is often used to describe the movement of something or someone in a slow and deliberate manner. It can also be used to describe the gradual progression of something, such as the movement of the sun or the growth of plants.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When it comes to using the words creeped and crept, many people tend to interchange them without realizing that they are not synonyms. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Using Creeped As Past Tense For Creep

One of the most common mistakes people make is using “creeped” as the past tense of “creep”. While it may sound correct, “creeped” is actually incorrect. The correct past tense of “creep” is “crept”.

Incorrect: He creeped up behind me.

Correct: He crept up behind me.

Using Crept As Present Tense

Another mistake people make is using “crept” as the present tense of “creep”. This is also incorrect. “Creep” is a regular verb, which means that it follows the pattern of adding “-ed” to the base form to make the past tense.

Incorrect: He crept slowly towards the door.

Correct: He is creeping slowly towards the door.

Using Crept As Past Tense For Other Verbs

Some people also make the mistake of using “crept” as the past tense for other verbs that are not related to “creep”. This is incorrect because “crept” is only the past tense for “creep”.

Incorrect: She crept out of bed and made her way to the kitchen.

Correct: She crawled out of bed and made her way to the kitchen.

Tips To Avoid These Mistakes

To avoid these common mistakes, it is important to understand the proper usage of “creep” and “crept”. Here are some tips:

• Remember that “crept” is the past tense of “creep”.
• Use “creep” as the present tense of the verb.
• Do not use “crept” as the past tense for other verbs.
• Read and write regularly to improve your grammar and vocabulary.

Context Matters

When it comes to choosing between “creeped” and “crept,” context is key. Depending on the situation, one may be more appropriate than the other. Let’s explore some examples of different contexts and how the choice between the two might change.

Formality

The level of formality in a piece of writing can determine which word is more appropriate. “Crept” tends to be more formal and is often used in academic or professional writing. On the other hand, “creeped” is more casual and is commonly used in everyday conversation and informal writing.

Example:

• Crept: The thief crept silently through the dark alley.
• Creeped: I was creeped out by the horror movie I watched last night.

Tense

The tense of a sentence can also affect the choice between “crept” and “creeped.” “Crept” is the past tense of “creep,” while “creeped” is the past participle. This means that “crept” is used when referring to a specific past action, while “creeped” can be used to describe a past action that has ongoing effects.

Example:

• Crept: The spider crept across the floor and disappeared under the couch.
• Creeped: The thought of spiders has always creeped me out.

Emphasis

In some cases, the choice between “crept” and “creeped” can be used to emphasize certain aspects of a sentence. “Crept” can emphasize the stealth or sneakiness of an action, while “creeped” can emphasize the feeling of unease or discomfort.

Example:

• Crept: The spy crept through the building, careful not to make a sound.
• Creeped: The abandoned house gave me the creeps.

By considering the context in which “crept” and “creeped” are used, one can ensure that their writing is clear, concise, and appropriate for the situation at hand.

Exceptions To The Rules

While the general rule is to use “crept” as the past tense of “creep” and “creeped” as the past participle, there are some exceptions where this might not apply. Here are some examples:

Regional Differences

There are regional differences in the usage of “creeped” and “crept.” In some parts of the world, “creeped” is used as the past tense and past participle of “creep.” For instance, in American English, “creeped” is more commonly used than “crept” in everyday speech. On the other hand, “crept” is more commonly used in British English.

Colloquial Usage

There are also instances where “creeped” is used colloquially, even in standard English. For example, when used in a figurative sense, “creeped” can be used as a past tense and past participle of “creep.” This is particularly true when referring to a feeling of unease or discomfort. For instance:

• After watching that horror movie, I was really creeped out.
• He creeped me out with his strange behavior.

In these cases, “crept” would not be appropriate because it refers specifically to the physical act of moving slowly and stealthily.

Irregular Verbs

Finally, it’s worth noting that irregular verbs don’t always follow the same rules as regular verbs. While “creep” is a regular verb, there are many irregular verbs that have their own unique past tense and past participle forms. For instance:

Infinitive	Past Tense	Past Participle
Go	Went	Gone
See	Saw	Seen
Do	Did	Done

As you can see, these verbs have unique past tense and past participle forms that don’t follow the same rules as regular verbs. While “creep” isn’t an irregular verb, it’s worth keeping in mind that irregular verbs can have their own exceptions to the rules.

Practice Exercises

Now that we have a better understanding of the difference between “creeped” and “crept”, let’s put that knowledge into practice. Here are some exercises to help you improve your understanding and use of these words in sentences.

Exercise 1: Fill In The Blank

Choose the correct form of the verb to fill in the blank in each sentence.

1. The spider __________ across the floor.
2. She felt __________ out of the room so as not to disturb the sleeping baby.
3. The thought of the haunted house __________ her out.
4. The thief __________ up to the window and peered inside.
5. The children __________ around the playground, trying to avoid the teacher’s watchful eye.

Answer key:

1. crept
2. crept
3. creeped
4. crept
5. creeped

Exercise 2: Rewrite The Sentence

Rewrite each sentence using the opposite form of the verb.

1. The burglar crept through the dark alley.
2. The ghost crept up behind her and whispered in her ear.
3. The little girl crept out of bed to see if Santa had come.

Answer key:

1. The burglar creeped through the dark alley.
2. The ghost creeped up behind her and whispered in her ear.
3. The little girl creeped out of bed to see if Santa had come.

Remember, it’s important to use the correct form of these words to convey the right meaning in your writing. With these practice exercises, you’ll be able to use “creeped” and “crept” with confidence.

Conclusion

After reading this article, it is clear that the words “creeped” and “crept” are often used interchangeably, but there are important differences in their usage. “Crept” is the past tense and past participle of “creep,” and is the correct choice when referring to a slow and stealthy movement. On the other hand, “creeped” is a nonstandard variation that is sometimes used in casual speech and writing, but should be avoided in formal contexts.

It is important to pay attention to language use and grammar, as it can greatly impact the clarity and effectiveness of communication. By continuing to learn and improve our language skills, we can become better writers and communicators.