Is is totally proper? I have almost used it in many situations but I always hesitate, because it seems so weird. Anybody else feel the same way? I'm sure it's a real word of course, but how proper is it?
It is the past participle of the verb get. So it is proper and is appropriate in the correct situations.
For example, "I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet." I guess that's technically proper, but it just sounds so weird to me and I don't feel comfortable typing/saying it.
In most cases, simpler is better. The purpose of long words and sentences is actually a means of pretentiousness. The previous sentence is a case on the point. With Nick's example, it would probably just be better to say "I haven't fixed that yet". It gives the same exact meaning in the long run, at least to English speakers. People will understand you better if your language is natural instead of contrived. Remember that proper and best use are not always the same thing. One exception would be that if you know something is going to be translated, you might want to use more verbose speech so context isn't lost.
According to dictionary.com ; In British English got is the regular past participle of get, and gotten survives only in a few set phrases, such as ill-gotten gains. In American English gotten, although occasionally criticized, is an alternative standard past participle in most senses, especially in the senses “to receive” or “to acquire”: I have gotten (or got) all that I ever hoped for. Not something ive heard used much. In your example Nick, we would say "I haven't got around to fixing it yet". Well actually, I would say "I aint got round to fixing it yet", but thats another discussion
