Got, but and that – words we love to hate

By Mary Morel

Three words that many people hate are: got, but and that.

I have never understood why got receives such bad press. I agree you can often use more specific words to replace it:

I got a book out of the library.
I borrowed a book from the library.

But it is a versatile little word because it has so many different meanings.

The Macquarie Dictionary lists 40 different usages, including obtain, fetch, receive, earn, communicate and prepare.

I like the word but because it is simple and the alternatives, however and yet, are more formal.

But whether I use it or not, depends on the context. For example, I would not start a sentence with But in a formal document.

I have mixed feelings about that.

Often you can delete that without any loss of meaning, but sometimes it adds to the rhythm of a sentence.

Occasionally omitting that can create problems. Read some examples.

The Economist Style Guide (Profile Books, 2010) lists ‘horrible’ words and phrases. Here are a few of them: