Get is a Dirty Word

Growing up, you may have heard the heirloom advice “the only point that swearing makes is that you don't know the words to make your point.”  I love this advice. Although I do a fair bit of swearing, I firmly believe that words deeply matter and are currently undervalued. Using the perfect word for a specific situation is a gift to the person you are talking to, but additionally, the satisfaction of so precisely representing yourself is... ineffable.

Alas, “learn more words” is not a helpful commission. So, a quick trick I have recently employed is to remove “get” from my personal lexicon. I borrowed the idea from an elementary school teacher who forced her students to remove the word “that” from their writing. Once you see that this word is never necessary, you can’t help but consciously remove it from every sentence you read. It has become a bit of a game for me.

“Get” is a catchall verb; it is so flexible and so abundant, it has become a default. The danger of defaults is they remove everyday agency and awareness. Of course, defaults save us time, but they must be periodically reviewed and challenged. There is not progress or joy in an unchallenged existence.

Replacing “get” with another verb is typically an easy exercise:

• I received the package (I got the package)

• I understand what you are saying (I get what you are saying)

• I purchased a new bookcase (I got a new bookcase)

• I will take my revenge! (I will get him back)

But sometimes it is tricky:

• We talked for hours (we got to talking)

The only place where “get” belongs is in an insult: “get stuffed!” This insult wouldn't be nearly as foul as: “be stuffed!” It sounds more like a spell than an insult.

The pause caused by replacing a default offers a tiny opportunity, a chance to reflect on what you are saying. Reflection is one of the greatest gifts we have as humans. We are capable of contemplating the why behind the what. We ought to employ this gift more often.