Written vs Writen: Past Participle of Write Explained

The quick answer, from a tired editor who fixes this daily

As a copy editor and English coach who’s corrected thousands of essays over 12+ years, here’s the blunt truth: it’s “written,” not “writen.” If you’re searching “written or writen,” you’re dealing with the past participle of write, an irregular verb, and a super common spelling mistake.

I know why it happens. You see “write” and “wrote,” clean and simple, and then boom—“written” shows up with a double t like it pays rent. Annoying. But it’s right. And yes, your teacher was right too. I hate when that happens.

What I tell students in the first five seconds

The rule you need: Base form is write. Past tense is wrote. Past participle is written. That last one is the one you use after “has,” “have,” or “had.” Easy enough to say. Easy to forget at 1 a.m. with a deadline glaring at you.

When folks ask why it’s irregular, I point them to the big list of English irregular verbs. English: come for the vibes, stay for the chaos.

Let me prove it fast so you can move on with your life

Check a dictionary. Any solid one. “Written” is the form you want for the past participle. Here’s the entry I send most people: Cambridge Dictionary: written.

If you like U.S. sources, this works too: Merriam-Webster: written. I don’t make the rules. I just fix your drafts.

And if you’re more into learner-friendly stuff, try this: Oxford Learner’s: written. Clean examples. No fuss.

How “written” behaves in real sentences

In my experience, the confusion isn’t just spelling. It’s function. We use “written” after helpers like “has,” “have,” or “had.” As in: “I have written three drafts.” Not “I have wrote.” Please don’t write “I have wrote.” My coffee budget can’t take it.

If you want practice with irregulars in general, the training wheels version is here: British Council: irregular verbs. Ten minutes there can save you ten emails from your editor. Me. I’m your editor, apparently.

Signs you’re about to misspell it

I’ve always found that we mess up double letters when the base word has one consonant but the ending tries to double it. You’ve seen the same movie: “forest” vs “forrest,” right? If that tripped you once, this breakdown will help: forest vs forrest.

Another trap is trusting the old “i before e” stuff like it’s gospel. It’s helpful sometimes, and then it betrays you. If you want a quick sanity check on that lovely half-rule, here’s a clean refresher: i before e rule.

Mini cheat sheet (table-style, quick and blunt)

• Base form | write | Use it now: “I write emails.”
• Past tense | wrote | Use it yesterday: “I wrote the email.”
• Past participle | written | Use it with has/have/had: “I have written worse.”

• Right: “She has written her report.”
• Wrong: “She has wrote her report.”
• Right: “He wrote last night.”
• Wrong: “He has writen last night.”

Common ways we all mess this up (yes, me too, on bad Tuesdays)

I’ve caught myself typing “writen” when I’m rushing. It feels lighter. But the double t is glued to the past participle. Same energy as “written, smitten, bitten.” That family likes to double up.

Speaking of confusing forms, if “write/wrote/written” melts your brain, you’ll love how verbs change in time—little switches that matter. I often point folks to this quick tense comparison: choose vs chose. It’s the same idea: present vs past vs participle.

Quick tests I use when my brain is fried

• Swap the helper: If “have” fits, you need “written,” not “wrote.”
• Try a cousin word: “bitten/smitten/written.” If the others double the t, you probably do too.
• Read it out loud. If it sounds like a sentence your English teacher would nod at, you’re close.
• Check one dictionary and move on. Don’t doom-scroll grammar forums.

Short, real examples (use and move on)

I’ve written code comments that read like ransom notes. Still counts.

She has written three letters, and yes, she put stamps on all of them. Champion behavior.

They wrote the plan last week. They have written updates since. Look at that: both forms, living in peace.

This is not about being fancy

I’ve always found that people think “written” sounds formal. It’s not. It’s just the form you need with “has/have/had.” Like putting gas in the car. Not fancy. Just required.

If apostrophes also haunt you at night (same club), this breakdown is gold: community’s vs communities. Different problem, same feeling: tiny marks, big meaning.

Memory hacks that actually stick

• The 3W stack: write → wrote → written. It goes 1 W, 1 W, then 2 t’s. That last step is the “weight” of the work being done.
• Double trouble rhyme: written, bitten, smitten. That trio sticks.
• Helper alert: If you see “has/have/had,” your next word is probably a past participle like “written.”

Also, don’t sleep on homophones and near matches. “Kart” and “cart” sound the same but live different lives. When in doubt, check a quick guide like kart vs cart. Saves time. Saves face.

Why “writen” looks tempting (and how to fight it)

Our brains love patterns like “written or writen” because we want fewer letters. Less effort. But English spelling isn’t a gym plan; it’s a museum. Some words carry history dust. “Written” comes from old forms that doubled the consonant before certain endings. So yes, it’s double t. No, your spellcheck isn’t being mean. It’s being accurate.

If you like to see the whole irregular verb zoo, yeah, there are plenty. The list is long, and it explains why “write/wrote/written” is cousins with “go/went/gone” and “eat/ate/eaten.” It’s messy. It’s English. And somehow we all get work done anyway.

Mini table-style cheat sheets you can screenshot

Forms and when you use them

• Now (present) | write | “I write daily.”
• Before (past) | wrote | “I wrote yesterday.”
• Completed with helper | written | “I have written enough for today.”

Right vs wrong pairs

• Right: “He had written the note.” | Wrong: “He had wrote the note.”
• Right: “We wrote it last week.” | Wrong: “We have wrote it last week.”
• Right: “I have written the code.” | Wrong: “I have writen the code.”

When I still double-check

In my experience, late-night writing turns “written” into “writen.” I catch it by skimming for helper verbs. If I see “has/have/had,” I jump to the next word and make sure it wears the double t suit. Quick fix. Zero drama.

Bonus: spelling rules can help… sometimes

Rules are fine until they break. That’s why I cross-check once and then keep typing. If a rule feels fuzzy, a 15-second dictionary peek ends the debate. And no, I don’t go down rabbit holes anymore. Learned that the hard way.

Other little gremlins to watch for

People ask me if “writting” is ever right. Nope. That’s “writing.” One t. I know—why not two? Because English. File that under “Just the way it is.”

And while we’re here, tense confusions spill into other verbs too. If “wrote vs written” hurts, you’re not alone. I’ve tutored tech leads, med students, and novelists on this. All smart. All human. All allowed to be tired.

FAQs

• Is it written or writen?

  It’s “written.” Double t. “Writen” is a misspelling, even if your fingers love it.

• When do I use written vs wrote?

  Use “wrote” for past by itself (Yesterday, I wrote). Use “written” after has/have/had (I have written).

• Why is it double t in written?

  Because it’s the past participle of an irregular verb. It follows the same vibe as “bitten/smitten.” History stuff. Not your fault.

• Can I say I have wrote?

  Nope. Say “I have written.” Save “wrote” for simple past: “I wrote.”

• Any quick way to remember?

  Think 3W stack: write → wrote → written. If you see has/have/had, grab “written.”

Lucas

Hey, I’m Lucas. My blog explores the patterns and connects the dots between tech, business, and gaming. If you’re a curious mind who loves to see how different worlds intersect, you’re in the right place.