The word "often" has two acceptable pronunciations:
- Without the "t" sound: pronounced as "offen" (/ˈɒf.ən/ in British English or /ˈɑːf.ən/ in American English). This pronunciation is considered the traditional and "posh" or prestige pronunciation, especially in British English.
- With the "t" sound: pronounced as "off-ten" (/ˈɒf.tən/ in British English or /ˈɑːf.tən/ in American English). This pronunciation has become common again in recent times and is widely accepted, especially in American English.
Historically, "often" was originally pronounced with the "t," but the pronunciation without the "t" became standard by the Elizabethan era. The "t" pronunciation reemerged partly due to the influence of written language and dictionary standardization in the 18th century. Today, both pronunciations are correct, and choosing one over the other is a matter of personal preference or regional dialect. The British upper class traditionally prefers the version without the "t." In summary, you can pronounce "often" either as "offen" or "off-ten," both are correct and acceptable.
