Manzanita, Oregon
July 16, 2021
The first time I remember zeroing in on the word “but” was listening to Sam Donaldson of ABC News. My recollection (which is perfect, right?) was that his questions often contained two clauses joined by “but.” The first clause was flattery; the second one was a gotcha question. “The polls show you are way ahead, BUT how often do you kick your dog?”
I fear I may have fallen into a similar rut — using a “but” to offset a positive first clause. “It was a beautiful day, BUT it rained all evening.”
So along with my eschewing shoulda, coulda, and woulda, I hereby declare my intention to swear off my use of the word “but.