1977: Shewed or Shown May 14, 2020

Generally, standard but less common forms for verbs, including 'shown' instead of 'showed', is thought of being more historical, but this is not necessarily true. 'Shewed' is documented as a form of 'showed', as in the 1471 order from Edward IV that the "bodies of the dead Lords [Warwick and Montagu be]...openly shewed" as to prove they were actually dead. Indeed, this form was used even into the 19th century commonly enough, though now shown is undoubtedly the most popularly used. It is a mistake to believe that the progression of language is universally and exclusively towards uniformity. For another example of this, see: sneaked and snuck.

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