grammaticality - Which past tense of "to light" should I use here?


I know that there are two ways to form the past tense of to light (i.e. lit/lighted). Which one is appropriate for the sentence below?



His thoughts lighted our way.



or



His thoughts lit our way.




Answer



I have a feeling that the best word for here is "lighted". "Lighted" is used more when referring to something illuminating another.


When generally referring to a source of light that brightens up the room, "lighted" is preferred:



The lantern lighted the whole room.



"Lit" is generally more used for "setting on fire" :



He lit the paper and threw it in the bin.
The little spark lit the straw, and the whole barn burned down.



Also,"lit" has an alternative meaning:



Slang . under the influence of liquor or narcotics; intoxicated (usually followed by up ).



Thus, I feel that "lighted" would be best here.



His thoughts lighted our way.




"Light" has two meanings, one meaning "to cause to take fire", and the other "to illuminate". When referring to "light" in the first sense, the past would be "lit":



He tried to light his cigar/ He lit his cigar



When referring to "light" in the second sense, "lighted"(often along with "up" is used:



His words were a light to my future/His words lighted up my future.



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