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focused vs. focussed

English translation: focused - preferred spelling for "edited" English

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English term or phrase:	focused vs. focussed
English translation:	focused - preferred spelling for "edited" English
Entered by:	Kim Metzger

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02:26 Jan 10, 2004

English to English translations [Non-PRO]

English term or phrase: focused vs. focussed

Does the word "focussed" exist? If yes, is it British English???

I am looking for the past tense of "focus" in British English.

Thanks!!

Denyce Seow KudoZ activity Questions: 1843 (10 open) (49 closed without grading) Answers: 1527 Singapore
Local time: 16:41

Yes

Explanation:
Focussed is one of the British English spellings for the past participle. Focused is the preferred US spelling. My Concise Oxford lists focused first and focussed second, which means that focused is used more often. The decision usually based on the style guide you're following.

Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 02:41

Grading comment

Thanks, Kim. Your explanation helps.

Thanks, folks!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +12

focused or focussed

ntext

5 +11

Yes

Kim Metzger

4 +1

focused is the preferred spelling in British English

vixen

3 +1

according to Oxford Dictionary of English

Selcuk Akyuz

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +12

focused or focussed

Explanation:
Either is correct.

Main Entry: 2focus
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): fo·cused also fo·cussed; fo·cus·ing also fo·cus·sing

Reference: http://www.m-w.com/

ntext
United States
Local time: 02:41
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in pair: 355

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +11

Yes

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 02:41
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 2119

Grading comment

Thanks, Kim. Your explanation helps.

Thanks, folks!!

15 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

focused is the preferred spelling in British English

Explanation:
The (British) Collins dictionary only lists 'focused' and not 'focussed'.

In Fowler's 'Modern English Usage', the following statement is made:

"the verb makes focused, -cusing (' in England commonly, but irregularly, written focussed, -ing ' --OED)"

vixen
Greece
Local time: 10:41
Native speaker of:

Dutch
PRO pts in pair: 84

6 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

according to Oxford Dictionary of English

Explanation:
both of them are true

verb (focuses, focusing,
focused or focusses,
focussing, focussed)

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Note added at 19 hrs 27 mins (2004-01-10 21:54:06 GMT)
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Chambers Dictionary 1993 edition (reprinted 1997)
focused or focused

and

Chambers 21st Century Dictionary
focused; focussed

Selcuk Akyuz
Turkey
Local time: 10:41
Native speaker of: