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unblock

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7. Pleaded is the more formal term, and as it comes up mostly in formal contexts, that's the term that gets used most.

Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:01 PM

Jan 5

In court, or in court filings, it would always be "pleaded" is those are formal settings.

A reporter who gets the story is likely to hear a lawyer explain that the accused "pleaded" one way or another, and so is likely to just stick with that term when reporting. Reporting is less formal, so I suppose they could switch it to pled, but usually they just stick with the term they heard.

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I have a silly technical question [View all] JMCKUSICK Jan 5 OP

Because pleaded is the correct term SheltieLover Jan 5 #1

Both are correct English. highplainsdem Jan 5 #2

Yes, but pleaded is the more formal use, as in legal writing SheltieLover Jan 5 #3

Merriam-Webster: highplainsdem Jan 5 #6

Thank you Highplainsdem JMCKUSICK Jan 5 #8

What a silly technical question. Xavier Breath Jan 5 #4

lol JMCKUSICK Jan 5 #5

Pleaded is the more formal term, and as it comes up mostly in formal contexts, that's the term that gets used most. unblock Jan 5 #7

From the American Bar Association: highplainsdem Jan 5 #9

Yeah, pled isn't wrong, it's just not used as often in appeals and such. unblock Jan 5 #10

I think it's an Americanism canetoad Jan 5 #11

As others have noted - it's legal jargon. Grammatically both are correct. Ms. Toad Jan 5 #12

Lol JMCKUSICK Jan 5 #13

The Associated Press stylebook calls for "pleaded" as the preferred term jmowreader Jan 5 #14