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Mr. Tom Posted 5 years ago
Vocabulary

Our service can't be beat.

Hi

Would you say you are comfortable with this sentence? I would use beaten.

Our service can't be beat.

Thanks,

Tom

  

Top answer

"Beat" is a legitimate alternative past participle of "beat". Even the OED condones it, "especially" in the sense "conquer". It has a long history and is defensible on etymological grounds.

— Anonymous

  • "Beat" is a legitimate alternative past participle of "beat".
  • Even the OED condones it, "especially" in the sense "conquer".
  • It has a long history and is defensible on etymological grounds.
  • Even so, it sounds informal to me, but it looks like that's my problem.
  • Your example is advertising copy, and "beaten" would actually sound stuffy there.
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1 Answers
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"Beat" is a legitimate alternative past participle of "beat". Even the OED condones it, "especially" in the sense "conquer". It has a long history and is defensible on etymological grounds. Even so, it sounds informal to me, but it looks like that's my problem. Your example is advertising copy, and "beaten" would actually sound stuffy there.

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