Quick answer
Use heard for the past of hear, and herd for a group of animals or the act of guiding a crowd. Memory hook: heard contains ear, and you hear with your ear.
The core difference
Heard is the past form of hear; herd is a group of animals or a verb meaning to gather and drive.
- heard — past tense and past participle of hear: A loud crash was heard from the kitchen.
- herd — a group of animals that live or move together: A herd of elephants crossed the river at dawn.
- herd — as a verb, to gather or guide: Staff herded the tourists onto the waiting buses.
How to tell them apart
The two words sound identical in most accents, so the spelling is what matters. If you are talking about sound or listening, look for the ear inside heard.
If you mean animals, or people being moved about like animals, use herd: The farmer keeps a herd of about fifty dairy cows. A common slip is writing I herd a noise, where heard is needed, or a heard of cows, where herd is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is it "I herd you" or "I heard you"?
It is <em>I heard you</em>. The past tense of <em>hear</em> is <em>heard</em>.
Can herd be a verb?
Yes. To <em>herd</em> means to gather, drive or guide together, as in <em>The dogs herded the sheep back into the pen.</em>
Are heard and herd homophones?
Yes, in most accents they sound the same, but they differ in spelling and meaning.
