To hate the word Gotten, there is surely no such word

[NoahVale]

and I was dismayed to see that my DD wrote gotten in an email to a prospective employer.

It might be lazy to over use the verb 'to get', but there is nothing intrinsically lazy about using 'gotten' rather than 'got' as a past participle.

Diabolical, RealHuman. Just diabolical!

I was reading an article the other day online and it mentioned a physical therapist. The (American) article then went on to explain that it was the same as a physiotherapist 'in British English'.

Er - No. 'British' English IS English.

British English is a legitimate term.

If you dislike the use of gotten, just think kindly in the poster. You may be speaking to one of those dreaded Irish people who, being frightfully non-U (like the Americans), still use this appalling word.

Loads of different types of English, but as Scottish English differs from English English, maybe British English isn't specific enough.

...no words exist until they are 'made up' and used. Language is organic. It changes. Think of 'internet' or 'texting'- these didn't exist 20 or so years ago. I would use 'gotten' if it was a suitable word for the context.

I don't think 'British English' is a legitimate term, we will have to agree to disagree on that. It is English. We invented it. The English spoken in England (and the rest of the British Isles) is the default.

By all means have American or Australian English or whatever, since those countries have over time begun to use various different words for things, but there isn't such a thing as 'British English'. It's just English.

Within British English there is English English, Welsh English, Scottish English etc. to indicate regional differences.

No word exists in English

In American-English, yes

Does my head in!!

I'm sorry but British English is a legitimate and widely used term.

There's no need to feel so territorial.

Hmm. I think I may be guilty of using this! But then I am Australian, so probably use some words not in common usage here since the early - mid 1800s!

I don't think 'British English' is a legitimate term, we will have to agree to disagree on that. It is English. We invented it.

And then some of us moved across the Atlantic and kept words such as 'gotten', while, over hundreds of years, language evolved in England and 'gotten' changed to 'got'.

In this case the Americans are using the old 'English English'.

I'm no expert, Jeanne, and I accept that I'm probably wrong. It feels to me things have changed very quickly - but I did live abroad for several years so some of the changes may seem magnified.

Oh, I don't mean it's not quick - only that it isn't unprecedented to have periods where language is changing very fast.

It always stuns me to listen to how much accents have changed since 1950, too - that's a huge shift.

'The English Air', I am away on holiday so cannot give you page references. I only remember because I was so surprised.

Actually I am fond of I know, right, it reminds me of Devon , or at least the West Country.

YANBU. I cannot bear the word and cringe when it's used. Sad but true!

I've read a lot of Agatha Christie and I don't reember 'gotten'. Was it a reprint?

I bought a book on Kindle the other day and the spelling was American. Could it be something like that?

(I returned the book btw, horrible reading 'plow' for 'plough' when it's by an English author and no indication that it's an American edition. )

Weirds words have really gotten your goat, eh OP?

(how has this thread gotten so far without that line?)

merrymouse: "Wouldn't you say he has become old in British English? I agree though that 'gotten old' has a nice sitting on the porch swing drinking lemonade ring to it."

I knew when I was writing it that it wasn't a very good example, but it was the first one that sprang to mind. As a general rule I try to avoid "get" in writing anyway, but if you have to use the past tense I don't mind "gotten".

Actually my real bug bear is all those sneering phrases that involve "get" such as "Get a life", "Get over yourself," "Get real", "You should get out more" etc. I'd happily ban all of those.

I got, I have gotten?

I would probably use this to a friend but in the world of business, no, never.

Received! of course

"Gotten" is not universally the past participle of "to get" in AmE. There are usage rules. And when used correctly, "gotten" is acceptable in formal as well as informal AmE.

grammarist.com/usage/got-gotten/