had been gotten

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been gotten" is not standard in written English and is generally considered incorrect.
It is typically used in informal contexts, but it is better to avoid it in formal writing. Example: "The information had been gotten from a reliable source."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Even the rugs, which had been gotten for other spaces, fit perfectly".

The New York Times

"We have encountered evidence that material wasn't on the record when it should have been and it had been gotten rid off after the request was made, which is an offence under section 77 of the act.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

My landlords had been getting suspicious anyway.

The Guardian - Tech

The bombs had been getting increasingly powerful.

The Guardian

But he had been getting better.

The New York Times

She believed that Christopher had been getting better every year.

The New Yorker

Tortorella has been getting results.

The New York Times - Sports

We've been getting better, going faster.

The New Yorker

The economic situation has been getting worse.

The New Yorker

Lately, their smiles have been getting thinner.

The Economist

We have been getting consistently good results.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, replace "had been gotten" with more accepted alternatives like "had been obtained" or "had been acquired" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "had been gotten" in academic papers, business reports, or other formal documents. Opt for stronger verb choices that enhance clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been gotten" functions as a past perfect passive construction, although it's considered non-standard. Its intended function is to indicate that an action of obtaining something was completed before another point in the past. According to Ludwig, the phrase is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "had been gotten" might be understandable in very informal settings, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It functions as a past perfect passive construction, but its use can detract from the clarity and professionalism of your writing. Therefore, it's best to opt for more accepted alternatives like "had been obtained" or "had been acquired" in formal and professional contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is incorrect, reinforcing the need for caution in its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been obtained

Replaces "gotten" with a more formal and widely accepted synonym.

had been acquired

Similar to 'obtained', this offers a more formal alternative to 'gotten'.

had been received

Emphasizes the act of receiving something, suitable when the source is less important.

had been secured

Suggests effort or planning was involved in getting something.

had been gained

Implies a process of gradual accumulation or learning.

had been found

Suitable when something was discovered unintentionally.

had been collected

Suggests a systematic gathering of items or information.

had been derived

Implies that something originated from a source.

had been extracted

Suitable when something was taken or removed from something else.

had been gathered

Similar to 'collected', but can imply a more informal or less structured approach.

FAQs

What's a better alternative to "had been gotten"?

You can use more formal alternatives such as "had been obtained", "had been acquired", or "had been received" depending on the context.

Is "had been gotten" grammatically correct?

While used in some dialects, "had been gotten" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use alternatives in formal writing.

When is it acceptable to use "had been gotten"?

The phrase might be acceptable in very informal conversations or certain regional dialects, but it should be avoided in professional or academic writing.

How does using "had been gotten" affect the perception of my writing?

Using "had been gotten" can make your writing seem less polished and professional. Choosing more precise and standard alternatives will improve the clarity and credibility of your message.