by Ryan McKeen
Jon: “I don’t hate Kate BUT….”
I hear “it was nice BUT all the time.” For example, it was a great restaurant BUT the service was horrible or it was a great movie BUT it was too long.
The truth is great restaurants have great service and great movies end too soon.
I used to say it.
When I was in college I served as President of the Student Government Association. One time, I was speaking with my advisor, Angeline. I pulled a “I really like So and So” and then I dropped the BUT bomb and proceeded to run of a list of faults.
Everyone needs an Angeline in their life. She’s a great teacher. Being a great teacher she called me on it. She said you don’t like ”So and So.” It wasn’t the reaction I expected.
Angeline told me I said BUT. You see she said “when you say BUT you negate what comes before BUT. If you’re honest, you cut to what’s after the BUT.”
Angeline was right.
If credibility is king than BUT has no place in a lawyer’s vocabulary.
What Jon said is “I don’t hate Kate BUT” what if he was being upfront he would have cut to the chase and said “I don’t like Kate”.
Angeline was definitely right. And you are quite right to say that the word "but" does not belong in a lawyer's vocabulary. I, for one, will be more mindful of my usage of that word. Often, though, that "but" is implied. It hangs in the air and you "hear" it without being said. That is equally deadly, I believe. Thanks for an insightful post.
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