Lead Vs. Led

One of the most common mistakes I see is the confusion of "lead" and "led." It seems that many people don't know how to use these words. So here's a (hopefully) simple explanation.

Lead

This word has two meanings and two pronunciations.

1. Pronounced LEED.
verb (used with object)

1.

to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort: to lead a group on a cross-country hike.

2.

to conduct by holding and guiding: to lead a horse by a rope.

3.

to influence or induce; cause: Subsequent events led him to reconsider his position.

4.

to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.; bring: You can lead her around to your point of viewif you are persistent.

5.

to conduct or bring (water, wire, etc.) in a particular course.

This can also be a noun, as in someone who takes the lead, or a leash.

Pronounced LED.
noun

1.

Chemistry . a heavy, comparatively soft, malleable, bluish-gray metal, sometimes found in its naturalstate but usually combined as a sulfide, especially in galena. Symbol:  Pb; atomic weight:  207.19;atomic number:  82; specific gravity:  11.34 at 20°C.

2.

something made of this metal or of one of its alloys.

3.

a plummet or mass of lead suspended by a line, as for taking soundings.

4.

bullets collectively; shot.

5.

black lead or graphite.

As in, pencil lead.

Led

This word has only one meaning and one pronunciation.

verb

simple past tense and past participle of lead.

It is used in cases such as "Yesterday, I led the choir in singing 'Amazing Grace.'"

It is never correct to use "lead" as a past tense of itself. Do not say "Yesterday, I lead the choir in singing 'Amazing Grace.'" Bad. Very bad.

I see it all the time online, though. It drives me crazy, because I pronounce it LEED in my head, and then it sounds awful. "Are you aware of what leed to this?" Ugh. No. "Are you aware of what led to this?" Much better.

It's very simple: when it's a verb, it's spelled just how it sounds. Today, I lead. Yesterday, I led. Easy peasy.

Now, do it right. Please.

(All definitions from dictionary.com)