spun or span... which is it? - Writers Forum

nelijane · 07-09-2006, 07:32 AM

Hi folks

Something that always trips me up: Can anyone tell me which is correct:

With a flash of blonde, Eve spun round and stopped all three of the Hogg family in their tracks.

With a flash of blonde, Eve span round and stopped all three of the Hogg family in their tracks.

As always, grateful for any help forthcoming

Nelijane

Selorian · 07-09-2006, 07:59 AM

Spun is correct, it's the past tense of spin.

Span is the distance between two points. It isn't any form of spin.
The bridge spans the canyon.

nelijane · 07-09-2006, 08:03 AM

thanks, that makes sense

Ruben · 07-09-2006, 10:55 AM

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spin

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/span

You can check any verb and their times there

Very handy

valeca · 07-09-2006, 11:56 AM

With 'span' being an archaic usage, I'd say go with 'spun'. Otherwise it'd be like having, "How art thou?" mingled in with more modern language. It'd stick out too much unless the rest of the language you're using is similar. More people would likely recognize 'spun' as proper usage.

imrhati · 07-09-2006, 12:45 PM

yep i'd go with spun.

Mike C · 07-10-2006, 10:57 AM

There's more to word choice than just 'this is new, this is old', or right and wrong. Horses for courses. Words can have rhythm and sometimes one word can sound right even when another may be technically more correct - in this case, say, the spider spun it's web, but the car span out of control.

nelijane · 07-10-2006, 12:39 PM

Yes. Mike, I was thinking that span was right before posting as it just sounds better. Technically, however, it's definitely incorrect. Now I'm confused (more so than usual)

Scarecrow's Arrow · 07-10-2006, 01:35 PM

So long at it's not tottally out of place or weird, use what sounds better. I'd use 'span'.

Mike C · 07-10-2006, 04:23 PM

Technically it's not incorrect, just maybe slightly less correct. Forget technicalities, go with your gut.

Selorian · 07-10-2006, 08:40 PM

I have to admit, I was wrong with that. Thanks for pointing it out, Ruben.

While Mike is right about using what feels right to you, you should also keep the intended readers at least somewhat in mind. If I had dug a little more, I would have known 'span' is an archaic form of 'spin'. I didn't though, and I looked at it in the way I am most familiar in hearing it used. If I read 'the car span out of control' in a novel, I would stop to see if it was right or not. Is the word so commonly associated with the new definition that people may be pulled from the story because it doesn't seem to fit? We don't want to pull the readers from the story, so that is something to consider when deciding which form to use.

Mike C · 07-11-2006, 02:10 AM

Maybe things are different here in the uk. Span is still commonly used here.

mammamaia · 07-11-2006, 06:55 PM

to be sure, mike!... my reaction would be the same as selorian's, if i saw it in contemporary american prose...

nelijane · 07-12-2006, 03:49 PM

Now I really am confused. I've just asked my boyfriend, what would you say, the car span out of control or, the car spun out of control. He says spun. I say span.

Selorian · 07-12-2006, 04:35 PM

I would say to use spun if you are in the US, as that seems to be the most acceptable form of past tense for spin there. If you are in the UK, then span wouldn't be wrong, as it is still used, so it seems, as a past tense form of spin there. The exception to this would be if the story is set in the UK.

This does bring up an interesting point about the difference in the meaning of words from one place and another. Whenever an issue such as this arises, it is best to take into consideration what your intended audience is used to. Stick with what is most acceptable for them, and keep them from being pulled from your story.