loan, lend

In formal writing, many writers use loan as a noun form and lend as a verb form. The verb loan is permissible, however, when referring to money as opposed to things.

But in America today, most usage panels of dictionaries point out that loan may act as a verb, even when loaning your car to a friend.

So consider your audience. If you’re writing for wordsmiths who prefer the old rule, use lend as the verb and loan as the noun, unless you loan money to someone.

Also note that the past tense of the verb lend is lent, not lended.

The verb lend also appears in figurative descriptions, and roughly means “give,” as in the scenery lent an air of serenity.

Example: The scenery lends the cottage a peaceful quality we really enjoyed, but the bank wouldn’t loan us enough money to buy it.