Rain is Forecasted or Forecast? Which is Correct?

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“Rain is forecast” or “rain is forecasted?” Which one is correct?

The short answer is that both are!

The verb’s correct past form and past participle form are “forecast” and “forecasted.”

In this post, we discuss the verb “forecast” and which one you should choose: “forecast” or “forecasted” when speaking and writing in English.

Forecast Meaning

“Forecast” means to predict or estimate.

When you forecast the weather, you are making a prediction about what it will be like in the future. This could be based on historical data, current conditions, or other factors.

The weather forecaster predicts the weather for that day, week or month.

Forecast as a Verb

“Forecast” is considered an irregular verb, like put, go and be. Irregular verbs don’t follow the rules.

Present form: forecast

Past simple and past participle form: forecast or forecasted

“Forecast” seems to be the most popular and preferred past tense form.

Example Sentences with Forecast

• The weather forecaster said that it would be windy tomorrow.
  
• I forecast that the company will make a profit this year.
  
• The economist forecasts a recession in 2023.
  
• Good weather is forecast next month.
  
• Sunshine is forecast next week.
  
• They have forecast hail, sleet and snow.

Forecasted Meaning

The past simple and past participle form of “forecast” can be “forecasted.”

To some people, to say “forecasted” sounds plain wrong.

This may depend on location; as an individual from Ireland, I always say “forecasted.”

Examples of Sentences With “Forecasted”

• The forecasted rain will continue throughout the night.
  
• Good weather is forecasted for next month.
  
• The forecasted snow will start tonight.
  
• He forecasted that the company would go bankrupt.
  
• I don’t think we should go out today; it’s forecasted to rain later.
  
• They have forecasted hail, sleet and snow.

Consult Your Style Guide

A style guide shows the standards of writing and formatting for written documents.

A style guide is used by organisations to show consistency in their written communication.

You may also want to consult your style guide and find out the recommended approach for writing irregular verbs like “forecast.”

Is Casted a Word?

The past form of “cast” is always “cast.” It is incorrect to say “casted.”

According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, a number of guides and people advocate that this rule extends to other verbs that end in -cast, such as “forecast” and “broadcast.”

While it is often recommended to avoid the -ed in verbs that end in -cast, we can still see words like “forecasted” and “broadcasted” written in prominent publications, such as The Business Insider and The Associated Press.

In Conclusion

The correct past simple tense and participle form of the verb “forecast” is “forecast.”

However, some people do say “forecasted.”

If you’re unsure which form to use, “forecast” is the most common.

Check with your style guide for guidance on this matter.

What do you say: “forecast” or “forecasted?” Let me know in the comments section below!

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