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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Heading v. headed
When does one use headed as opposed to heading?
Example: I would have thought 'I am headed in direction X' is wrong and should be 'I am heading in direction X'. I have seen many other such examples.
Example: I would have thought 'I am headed in direction X' is wrong and should be 'I am heading in direction X'. I have seen many other such examples.
Top answer
I use both, but prefer heading. ” Heading is the overall direction, in this case, with a deviation en route. I think in this sense, ‘headed’ is less consequential.
- I use both, but prefer heading.
- ” Heading is the overall direction, in this case, with a deviation en route.
- I think in this sense, ‘headed’ is less consequential.
- Another example might be that you can take a compass heading of, say, north-east.
- But when you check the road map, you see that highways and streets run north-south or east-west, forcing you to be headed either north or east most of the trip.
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2 Answers
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I use both, but prefer heading. In giving an account of my recent trip to England, I might say, “I was heading for London from Weston but headed first for Bristol to pick up provisions for our long drive.” Heading is the overall direction, in this case, with a deviation en route. I think in this sense, ‘headed’ is less consequential.
Another example might be that you can take a compass head
Another example might be that you can take a compass head
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AnonymousI am headed ... I am headingTo my ear 'heading' sounds more active. I am actually doing something. I'm moving. 'headed' sounds more descriptive of directionality.
That said, it doesn't often make any difference which one you use.
CJ
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