Written or Writen: Which Spelling Is Correct? Easy Rule & Examples 

Written is the correct spelling, while writen is a spelling mistake. The word written is the past participle of the verb write.

Imagine finishing an important email and reading it one last time. You notice the sentence, “I have writen the report.” Something looks wrong, but you cannot immediately see why.

This mistake is easy to make because written is pronounced quickly in normal speech. The second t may not sound very strong.

However, the spelling always contains two t’s: written.

English learners may also confuse write, wrote, and written because they are forms of the same irregular verb. The good news is that their roles are different.

Once you learn the pattern, choosing the correct form becomes much easier.

Quick Answer Box

Written is the correct spelling of the past participle of write. Writen is not the standard spelling. Use written with forms such as have, has, and had, or in passive sentences such as “The book was written by her.”

Quick Rule in 1 Line

Remember: write, wrote, written — the correct past participle always has two t’s.

Writen or Written: Which Is Correct?

Written is correct, and writen is incorrect. Written is the past participle of the irregular verb write, while writen is simply a spelling error. Dictionaries list written as the correct form. Cambridge identifies written as the past participle of write.

You should use written in formal and informal English.

For example:

• I have written an email.
• She has written a letter.
• He had written the report.
• The book was written by a famous author.

Do not write:

• I have writen an email.
• She has writen a letter.
• The book was writen by him.

The correct spelling always contains two t’s.

Correct:

written

Incorrect:

writen

There is no American versus British spelling difference here.

Both American and British English use written.

Why Is Written the Correct Spelling?

Written is correct because it is the established past participle of the irregular verb write. English does not form this verb by simply adding -ed. Oxford lists the verb forms as write, wrote, written, writing.

The verb write is irregular.

That means its past forms do not follow the simple pattern used by regular verbs.

For example:

• walk → walked
• talk → talked
• clean → cleaned

But write changes form:

• write → wrote
• write → written

The word writen does not follow the standard spelling of this verb.

The correct pattern is:

write → wrote → written

This pattern is worth memorizing.

Cambridge also lists write with wrote as the past tense and written as the past participle.

Read More: Is It Goodnight or Good Night? Which One Is Correct?

What Does Written Mean?

Written usually means that something has been put into written form. It can also describe something expressed through writing, such as written instructions or a written test. Cambridge gives written as both the past participle of write and an adjective.

For example:

She has written a new story.

Here, written is part of the verb phrase has written.

It shows that the action of writing has happened.

Written can also work as an adjective.

For example:

Please follow the written instructions.

Here, written describes the instructions.

Another example is:

We need written confirmation.

The word describes the type of confirmation.

So, written can have different grammatical roles.

Its meaning depends on the sentence.

Is “Written” a Word?

Yes, written is a correct English word. It is the past participle of write and is commonly used with have, has, or had, such as “She has written a letter.”

Correct Spelling of Written

The correct spelling is written, not writen. Remember that written has two t letters.

Written Examples

• She has written a new story.
• I have written an email.
• He wrote the letter yesterday.

Is “Written” a Word?

Yes, written is a correct English word. It is the past participle of write and is commonly used with have, has, or had, such as “She has written a letter.”

Correct Spelling of Written

The correct spelling is written, not writen. Remember that written has two t letters.

Written Examples

• She has written a new story.
• I have written an email.
• He wrote the letter yesterday.

Write, Wrote, and Written: The Correct Verb Forms

Write, wrote, and written are three important forms of the same irregular verb. Oxford gives this exact verb pattern.

Here is the basic pattern:

Verb Form	Word	Example
Present	write	I write every day.
Third-person present	writes	She writes every week.
Simple past	wrote	He wrote a letter.
Past participle	written	He has written a letter.
-ing form	writing	They are writing now.

The most common confusion is between wrote and written.

Remember that wrote normally works as the simple past.

She wrote the email yesterday.

Written is the past participle.

She has written the email.

This difference is important.

When Should You Use Written?

Use written when you need the past participle of write or when written describes something created through writing. It commonly appears after have, has, or had, and in passive constructions with be.

1. After Have

Use written after have in perfect constructions.

I have written three pages.

They have written the report.

We have written several emails.

2. After Has

Use written after has with a singular third-person subject.

She has written a book.

He has written a letter.

The student has written the answer.

3. After Had

Use written after had for the past perfect.

I had written the note before lunch.

She had written the report already.

They had written the instructions before the meeting.

4. In Passive Sentences

Written can also appear in passive constructions.

The letter was written by Sarah.

The book was written in 1998.

The report was written by our team.

5. As an Adjective

Written can describe something that exists in writing.

Please read the written instructions.

We need written permission.

The agreement contains written terms.

Is Written, Are Written, or Was Written?

Use written after is, are, was, or were when something receives the action. Use is/are for the present and was/were for the past. Written never works alone as the main verb.

Here are the common patterns:

– Is written (present, one thing): The address is written on the envelope.

– Are written (present, many things): The rules are written on the board.

– Was written (past, one thing): The note was written last night.

– Were written (past, many things): The emails were written by my manager.

– Has been written (present perfect): The report has been written.

Is written or was written? Use “is” when the writing is there now. Use “was” when the action finished at a past time.

– The name is written on the box.

– The name was written in a hurry.

Questions work the same way: *What is written on the sign?*

Fix for “I written” and “He written”

Written needs a helper such as have, has, had, or be. Without one, use wrote.

– Incorrect: I written the email. → Correct: I wrote the email. / I have written the email.

– Incorrect: He written a note. → Correct: He wrote a note. / He has written a note.

Read More: Cancelled or Canceled? Cancellation Spelling Explained

Written vs Writen Comparison

Written is the standard English spelling, while writen is an incorrect spelling. The difference is not related to American or British English. The correct word contains two t’s.

Feature	Written	Writen
Correct spelling	Yes	No
Standard English	Yes	No
Past participle of write	Yes	No
Used in formal writing	Yes	No
Used in American English	Yes	No
Used in British English	Yes	No
Contains two t’s	Yes	No

The simplest answer is this:

Always choose written.

If you see writen in your draft, correct it to written.

Why Do People Spell Written as Writen?

People often write “writen” because the second t is easy to miss when they pronounce the word quickly or type it from memory. The correct spelling must still contain two t’s.

Pronunciation can make English spelling difficult.

The word written is pronounced differently from how its letters might suggest.

Cambridge gives the pronunciation as /ˈrɪt̬.ən/ in American English.

When people speak quickly, the second t may not feel obvious.

This can lead to a spelling such as:

writen

However, pronunciation does not change the standard spelling.

The correct form remains:

written

Another reason is confusion with other verb forms.

People may remember:

• write
• wrote
• writen

But the actual pattern is:

• write
• wrote
• written

Learning all three together can prevent the mistake.

How to Pronounce Written

Written is pronounced “RIT-n.” It has two syllables (writ-ten), the stress is on the first syllable, and the vowel is short, like the “i” in “sit.”

It does not sound like “write.” Some learners say “RYE-ten,” which is wrong.

Try this:

– Say writ (like “sit”).

– Add a soft ten.

– Rhymes: kitten, bitten, mitten.

The ending sounds soft when you speak, but the spelling still keeps both t’s.

Easy Memory Trick for Written

Remember the phrase “write, wrote, written” and focus on the two t’s in written. You can also connect written with the ending -tten, which helps you avoid dropping one letter.

Try saying the pattern aloud:

Write → wrote → written

Then spell the final form:

W-R-I-T-T-E-N

Notice the two t’s.

A simple memory sentence is:

I write, I wrote, I have written.

This gives you all three major forms in one sentence.

You can repeat it when practicing.

Another quick trick

Think:

written = writ + ten

The spelling contains the ending -tten.

This is only a memory aid.

It is not the historical reason for the spelling.

Why Does Written Have Two T’s?

Write has a long “i” sound, so it has one t. Written has a short “i” sound, so it has two t’s. The double t keeps the vowel short.

You can see the same pattern in other words:

– kite → kitten

– bite → bitten

– hide → hidden

– ride → ridden

– write → written

This is a helpful pattern, not a rule for every verb. For example, drive becomes driven with one v.

20 Examples of Written in Sentences

Written appears in perfect tenses, passive sentences, and phrases where it describes something produced through writing. These examples show the most common ways to use the word correctly.

Have

1. I have written my name on the form.
2. We have written the answers in our notebooks.
3. They have written several articles this year.
4. I have written an email to my teacher.
5. The students have written their final essays.

Has

6. She has written a short story.
7. He has written three books.
8. The author has written a new chapter.
9. Maria has written the instructions.
10. My brother has written his application.

Had

11. She had written the letter before dinner.
12. We had written everything down.
13. He had written the answer before the bell rang.
14. They had written the report before the meeting.

Passive Sentences

15. The article was written by a professional writer.
16. The book was written in simple English.
17. The letter was written by hand.
18. The instructions were written clearly.

Adjective

19. Please follow the written instructions.
20. We need written permission from the manager.

These examples show why written is useful in many types of English writing.

Written Exam, Written Notice, and Other Common Phrases

Before a noun, written means “done in writing, not spoken.” So the correct phrase is written exam, never “writen exam.” The same spelling applies to every phrase below.

– Written exam / written test: answered on paper or screen, not out loud. The opposite is an oral exam.

– Written notice / written warning: a formal message given in writing.

– Written consent: permission given in writing.

– In written form: as text, not speech.

– For written approval: Please send the form for written approval.

– Correctly written: spelled or formed properly. Example: Is this sentence correctly written?

Well-written takes a hyphen before a noun (a well-written essay). After the noun, drop the hyphen (the essay is well written).

Related words with the same spelling: handwritten, rewritten, unwritten (an unwritten rule).

Common Mistakes With Written

The most common mistake is dropping one t and writing “writen.” Other mistakes involve confusing written with wrote or using the wrong auxiliary verb.

Mistake 1: Writen

Incorrect:

I have writen the email.

Correct:

I have written the email.

The word needs two t’s.

Mistake 2: Using Wrote After Have

Incorrect:

I have wrote the letter.

Correct:

I have written the letter.

After have or has, use the past participle.

The correct phrase is:

have written

Not:

have wrote

Mistake 3: Using Written for a Simple Past Sentence

Incorrect:

Yesterday, I written a letter.

Correct:

Yesterday, I wrote a letter.

The simple past form is wrote.

The past participle is written.

Mistake 4: Adding -ed

Incorrect:

She has writed a report.

Correct:

She has written a report.

Write is an irregular verb.

It does not become writed.

Mistake 5: Assuming Writen Is an Alternative Spelling

Incorrect idea:

“Writen” might be an American spelling.

It is not.

American and British English both use:

written

There is no regional spelling choice here.

Other Wrong Spellings of Written

Only W-R-I-T-T-E-N is correct. Every other version below is a typo or a spelling mistake.

| Wrong spelling | Correct word | Quick fix |

|—|—|—|

| w-r-i-t-e-n | written | Add the second t |

| wretten | written | The vowel is “i” (like write), not “e” |

| writte | write or written | “Writte” is not a word. Use write or written |

| writened | written | Write is irregular, so no -ed |

Proofreading tip: Before you publish or send a document, search it for “writen.” One quick Find (Ctrl+F) can catch the mistake.

Wrote or Written

Compare these sentences:

I wrote the letter yesterday.

I have written the letter.

The first sentence uses simple past.

The second uses the present perfect.

Here is another comparison:

Simple Past	Past Participle
I wrote a letter.	I have written a letter.
She wrote a report.	She has written a report.
They wrote a book.	They have written a book.

Oxford lists wrote as the past simple and written as the past participle of write.

A useful sentence to memorize is:

I write → I wrote → I have written.

Written vs Writing

Written is the past participle and adjective (has written, written notice). Writing is the -ing form and a noun (is writing, in writing). Writing has one t, while written has two.

| Word | Role | Example |

|—|—|—|

| written | Past participle, adjective | She has written the note. |

| writing | -ing form, noun | She is writing the note. |

Why does writing have one t?

Writing drops the silent e from write and adds -ing, just like make → making. The vowel stays long, so there is no double t.

Spell them out:

– write = W-R-I-T-E

– writing = W-R-I-T-I-N-G

– written = W-R-I-T-T-E-N

Wrong versions: writting, writeing.

In written or in writing?

Use in writing for putting something on paper: *Please confirm in writing.*

“In written” needs a noun after it, such as *in written form* or *in written English*.

Is Written Used in American and British English?

Yes. Written is the standard spelling in both American and British English. There is no US-versus-UK spelling difference between written and writen.

Cambridge provides American and British information for written and identifies it as the past participle of write.

Oxford also lists written as the past participle in its American English dictionary.

Therefore, you should write:

written

in:

• American English
• British English
• Canadian English
• Australian English
• Formal English
• Academic English
• Professional English
• Everyday English

The incorrect spelling writen does not become correct in another English variety.

How to Remember the Correct Spelling

The easiest way to remember written is to learn the complete verb pattern: write, wrote, written. The final form has two t’s.

Instead of memorizing written alone, memorize this group:

write → wrote → written

Then remember:

written = two t’s

You can also practice short sentences:

• I write every day.
• I wrote yesterday.
• I have written today.

This method connects spelling with grammar.

It also helps you understand when each form belongs in a sentence.

Quick Quiz: Written or Writen?

Pick the correct word for each sentence. Answers are at the end.

1. She has ___ three emails today.

2. Yesterday, he ___ a short note.

3. The course ends with a ___ exam.

4. Please confirm it ___.

5. The message ___ in a hurry.

6. Which is correct: wretten, writen, or written?

**Answers

1. written 2. wrote 3. written 4. in writing 5. was written 6. written

Key Takeaways

• Written is the correct spelling.
• Writen is an incorrect spelling.
• Written is the past participle of write.
• The three main forms are write, wrote, written.
• Wrote is the simple past form.
• Written commonly follows have, has, and had.
• Written can also describe something expressed in writing.
• American and British English both use written.
• Remember the two t’s in written.
• Never use writen in standard English writing.

FAQs

Is writen or written correct?

Written is correct. Writen is an incorrect spelling. Written is the past participle of the irregular verb write.

Is writen a word?

Writen is not the standard spelling of the English word written. In standard English writing, use written with two t’s.

How do you spell written?

The correct spelling is:

W-R-I-T-T-E-N

Remember the two t’s in the middle.

What is the past tense of write?

The simple past tense of write is wrote.

Example:

She wrote a letter yesterday.

Cambridge and Oxford both list wrote as the past simple form.

What is the past participle of write?

The past participle of write is written.

Example:

She has written a letter.

Oxford lists written as the past participle of write.

Is it written or writed?

The correct form is written. Writed is not the standard past participle of write.

Use:

I have written the report.

Not:

I have writed the report.

Is written used in American English?

Yes. Written is the standard form in American English. It is also standard in British English. There is no spelling change between these varieties.

Why does written have two t’s?

Written is an irregular form of write. Its spelling is not created by simply adding a regular past-tense ending.

The correct form is established as:

write → wrote → written

Is “have written” correct?

Yes. Have written is a correct present perfect construction.

For example:

I have written the report. The same pattern works with has written.

What is the plural of write?

Write is a verb, so it has no plural. Its form changes with the subject: I write, she writes. Related nouns do have plurals: writing → writings, writer → writers.

How do you pronounce written?

Written is pronounced “RIT-n” and rhymes with kitten. The stress is on the first syllable.

Conclusion:

Written is the correct spelling, while writen is a spelling mistake. Written is the past participle of the irregular verb write.

The easiest pattern to remember is:

write → wrote → written

Use wrote for the simple past.

Use written with have, has, or had, and in passive constructions.

Also remember that written is standard in both American and British English. There is no regional spelling difference.

Whenever you hesitate between writen or written, choose written with two t’s.