Broadcast vs. Broadcasted – Which is Correct?

The correct and preferred past tense and past participle form is broadcast. While “broadcasted” is increasingly used, it is generally considered non-standard and should be avoided in formal writing. Stick to “broadcast” for all tenses to maintain grammatical correctness.

Broadcast or Broadcasted – Which is Correct?

The verb “broadcast” is an irregular verb, meaning its past tense and past participle forms do not follow the typical pattern of adding “-ed.” For all tenses – present, past, and past participle – the word remains “broadcast.” “Broadcasted,” on the other hand, is a regularization of the verb, attempting to make it conform to the pattern of regular verbs. While “broadcasted” is becoming more common in informal speech and writing, it is widely considered incorrect or non-standard by most grammarians and style guides. To ensure grammatical precision and adherence to standard English, always use “broadcast” for its past forms.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Broadcast	Verb, Noun, Adjective	(Verb) To transmit by radio or television; to spread widely. (Noun) A program transmitted. (Adj) Widely spread.	The news was broadcast live across the nation.
Broadcasted	Verb (non-standard past tense/participle)	An incorrect or non-standard past tense/participle form of “broadcast.”	Incorrect: The show was broadcasted last night.

How to Use Broadcast

“Broadcast” is a versatile word that functions as a verb, noun, or adjective. As a verb, it is irregular, meaning its past tense and past participle forms are the same as its base form. This makes it similar to verbs like “cut,” “hit,” or “put.” When using “broadcast” in its verb form, whether in the present, past, or as a participle, the spelling remains unchanged. This usage is standard in formal and informal contexts.

Example 1: They plan to broadcast the concert live next week.

Example 2: The emergency alert was broadcast throughout the city.

Example 3: The radio station has broadcast that program for decades.

What are the different forms of Broadcast?

The verb “broadcast” is one of a class of irregular verbs that do not change their form for the past tense and past participle. This means its principal parts are:

• Base Form (Present): broadcast (e.g., I broadcast)
• Past Tense: broadcast (e.g., I broadcast yesterday)
• Past Participle: broadcast (e.g., I have broadcast)
• Present Participle: broadcasting (e.g., I am broadcasting)
• Third Person Singular Present: broadcasts (e.g., He broadcasts)

For a deeper understanding of these verb forms, exploring past participle rules can be highly beneficial.

Etymology of the word Broadcast

The word “broadcast” originated in the late 18th century, initially referring to the scattering of seeds widely by hand. It comes from “broad” (meaning wide) and “cast” (meaning to throw). Its modern sense of transmitting information or entertainment via radio or television emerged in the early 20th century, specifically around 1920, as the technology for mass communication developed. The irregular verb conjugation, where the past tense is the same as the present, is a characteristic it shares with other older verbs ending in “-cast” (e.g., forecast, overcast).

How to Use Broadcasted

While “broadcasted” is not considered standard English, its use has become increasingly common, particularly in informal speech and less formal writing. People often use “broadcasted” because they apply the regular verb conjugation rule (adding “-ed” for the past tense and past participle) to “broadcast,” not realizing it is an irregular verb. Although it is understood, its use can be perceived as grammatically incorrect by many, especially in professional or academic settings.

Example 1: (Though understood, “broadcast” is preferred) The interview was broadcasted on social media.

Example 2: (Though understood, “broadcast” is preferred) They have broadcasted the same message multiple times.

Example 3: (Though understood, “broadcast” is preferred) The local station broadcasted the game last night.

What are the different forms of Broadcasted?

When “broadcasted” is used, it is treated as a regular verb where the “-ed” ending signifies both the past tense and past participle.

• Base Form (Present): broadcast (when used as the base for “broadcasted”)
• Past Tense: broadcasted
• Past Participle: broadcasted
• Present Participle: broadcasting (this form is correct for both “broadcast” and “broadcasted”)
• Third Person Singular Present: broadcasts

It is important to reiterate that while these forms exist in common usage, they deviate from the established grammatical standard for the verb “broadcast.”

Etymology of the word Broadcasted

The form “broadcasted” does not have an independent etymology but rather represents a regularization of the existing word “broadcast.” It arose from the natural tendency in English to apply the standard “-ed” ending for past tenses and past participles to verbs that, historically, are irregular. This process, known as regularization, happens over time as language evolves, often driven by speakers applying common grammatical rules without awareness of specific irregular forms.

Related Concepts

Understanding the distinction between “broadcast” and “broadcasted” hinges on the concept of regular vs. irregular verbs. In English, most verbs are regular, forming their past tense and past participle by adding “-ed” (e.g., walk, walked, walked). However, a significant number of verbs are irregular, meaning they do not follow this pattern. Irregular verbs often change their vowel sound (e.g., sing, sang, sung), or, as in the case of “broadcast,” they remain unchanged across tenses. Recognizing whether a verb is regular or irregular is crucial for correct conjugation and can be challenging as there are no universal rules for irregular verbs; their forms must often be learned through exposure and memorization.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “The President’s address was broadcast live from the Oval Office.” (News Report)
• “A silent film was being broadcast on a large screen.” (From a novel)
• “News of the discovery quickly broadcast across the scientific community.” (Academic Journal)
• “The radio station has broadcast classical music since its inception.” (Historical Account)
• “They will broadcast the documentary series throughout the month.” (Television Schedule)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. The local radio station has (broadcast / broadcasted) news for over 50 years.
2. Yesterday, the meteorologist (broadcast / broadcasted) a warning about the impending storm.
3. The special event will be (broadcast / broadcasted) globally next Sunday.
4. Before cable, many shows were (broadcast / broadcasted) over the airwaves.
5. She carefully (broadcast / broadcasted) the seeds across the fertile field.

Answer Key

1. broadcast
2. broadcast
3. broadcast
4. broadcast
5. broadcast

Broadcast Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Transmit	To send out (a signal, message, or program) by electronic means.
Disseminate	To spread or disperse (something, especially information) widely.
Relay	To receive and pass on (information or a message).
Publish	To prepare and issue (a book, journal, piece of music, etc.) for public sale, distribution, or readership.
Circulate	To pass from place to place or person to person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “broadcasted” ever acceptable?
While “broadcasted” is non-standard, its usage is increasingly common in informal contexts. However, for formal writing, professional communication, and academic work, “broadcast” is the only grammatically correct and widely accepted form for all tenses.

Question 2: Why do people say “broadcasted” if it’s incorrect?
People often use “broadcasted” because they apply the regular verb conjugation rule (adding “-ed”) to “broadcast.” They may not be aware that “broadcast” is an irregular verb that does not change its form in the past tense and past participle.

Question 3: Are there other verbs like “broadcast” that don’t change form?
Yes, “broadcast” belongs to a group of irregular verbs that remain unchanged in the past tense and past participle. Other common examples include “cut,” “hit,” “put,” “shut,” “spread,” and “cost.”

Conclusion

In the debate between “broadcast” and “broadcasted,” the grammatically correct and universally accepted form for the past tense and past participle is broadcast. While “broadcasted” has gained some traction in informal speech due to the natural tendency to regularize verbs, it remains non-standard and should be avoided in any context where clarity and grammatical precision are valued. Adhering to the irregular form “broadcast” ensures your writing is polished and professional.

Pro Tip: When in doubt about irregular verbs, always consult a reputable dictionary or style guide. Using the correct forms, like “broadcast” for all tenses, enhances your credibility and ensures your message is taken seriously.