How to Avoid Using the Word, "Got."

"Got" is like a pernicious weed. It is only useful because it has taken the place of better, more specific, more interesting and evocative words. Improve your writing simply by eliminating this upstart usurper.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• An average vocabulary
• Willingness to be less vague
• Desire to improve your writing

1. Look at all the places where 'got' is used instead of some other word or phrase which actually works better in your writing. For instance, "I got a present." You actually received a present.
2. "I got used to using the wrong word all the time." "I became accustomed to using the wrong word all the time," actually sounds more intelligent.
3. "I get older every year," can easily be switched to, " I grow older every year."
4. Make a game out of it--find all the ways you use the word 'got' in your daily speech and/or writing, and find alternatives. It's worth it. People won't know you're doing it, but they will notice that you sound more educated and intelligent.

Tips & Warnings

• There are a few applications where 'got' is your best alternative. The only one I can think of is, "Gotcha!" which has a very specific meaning, and sounds and works better than, " I got you!"
• Slang is good if it adds something to the language, but if it merely replaces several really good words with one not really appropriate one, it weakens the language and causes us to lose fine shades of meaning. English needs to keep gaining words without losing any.