has gotten

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has gotten" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is the present perfect form of the verb "get," meaning to receive or acquire something. Example: She has gotten a promotion at work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has gotten worse.

The New York Times

She has gotten nowhere.

The New York Times

The crapshoot has gotten tougher.

The New York Times - Sports

He has gotten mugged before.

The New Yorker

So business has gotten better.

The New York Times

Land has gotten extremely expensive.

The New York Times

"It has gotten personal now".

The New York Times

It has gotten better since.

The New York Times - Food

He has gotten good reviews.

The New York Times

"Traffic has gotten worse".

The New York Times

Bernanke has gotten close.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When conveying the simple act of receiving something, consider using "has received" or "has obtained" for more formal contexts.

Common error

While "has gotten" is perfectly acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound informal. In professional or academic contexts, consider alternatives like "has become", "has obtained", or "has experienced" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has gotten" functions as an auxiliary verb construction, specifically the present perfect tense of the verb "get". According to Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct and widely used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has gotten" is a grammatically correct and commonly used auxiliary verb construction to describe a change of state or acquiring something. Ludwig confirms its validity and broad application. While widely accepted, "has gotten" may benefit from more formal alternatives like "has become" or "has obtained" in professional or academic settings. The primary contexts where the phrase is used are in News & Media. Remember to consider your audience and purpose when choosing between "has gotten" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has become

Focuses on the resulting state after a change, similar to "has gotten" but emphasizes the transformation.

has obtained

Emphasizes the act of acquiring or achieving something, often implying effort or process.

has received

Specifically indicates the act of being given or awarded something.

has experienced

Highlights the undergoing of a particular event or situation, focusing on the process rather than the end result.

has turned into

Suggests a more dramatic or complete transformation than "has gotten".

has evolved into

Implies a gradual process of change and development over time.

has been

A more general term indicating a state of being, often used to describe a condition that has existed for some time.

has reached

Implies arriving at a specific point or level, suggesting a goal or target has been achieved.

has achieved

Similar to 'has obtained' but has a slightly stronger tone of accomplishing something noteworthy.

has come to be

Indicates a gradual or natural process of development or change.

FAQs

How can I use "has gotten" in a sentence?

"Has gotten" indicates a change of state or the process of obtaining something. For example, "The weather "has gotten" colder" or "She "has gotten" a new job".

What's a more formal alternative to "has gotten"?

In formal writing, you can replace "has gotten" with phrases like "has become", "has obtained", or "has experienced depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey.

Is there a difference between "has gotten" and "has got"?

"Has gotten" is the past participle form used in American English to indicate acquiring or changing, while "has got" is more common in British English and means "has". For example, "She has gotten a raise" (American) vs "She has got a car" (British).

When should I avoid using "has gotten"?

While grammatically correct, "has gotten" might sound too informal in highly professional or academic writing. Consider using alternatives like "has become" or "has obtained" in those contexts to maintain a more sophisticated tone.