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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Headed or heading

Are both forms correct?

I knew where he was headed.
I knew where he was heading.

Is there any subtle difference between the two? Or are they the same?

Thanks a ton.
Mary
  

Top answer

They mean the same. Both would be accepted in informal English. Formally, it should be "heading".

— GPY

  • They mean the same.
  • Both would be accepted in informal English.
  • Formally, it should be "heading".
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4 Answers
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They mean the same. Both would be accepted in informal English. Formally, it should be "heading".
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To me, there is a shade of difference in meaning

I knew where he was headed. (I knew his destination, the end point.)
I knew where he was heading. (I know the direction in which he was going. I can guess his destination.)

He is headed towards the city. (His destination is clear.)
He is heading towards the city. (He is going in the direction of the city, but
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Why? What makes the first one an informal?
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Odessa DawnWhy? What makes the first one an informal?
"he was verb-ed" implies that someone or something verb-ed him. However, this is not possible in this case because the relevant meaning of "head" is intransitive. Therefore, "he was headed" (in the relevant sense) is not really correct in standard English. However, it is used informally. It may be analogous
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