I frequently write reports for customers with detailed descriptions of my work. Neither me nor my colleagues are native speakers but they frequently use 'got', where I would rather use 'was'. Very crude examples:
- The file got deleted.
- The parcel got delivered.
I've corrected this numerous times, but my colleagues do not understand my issue with the term. I've googled, but could not come up with a proper rule against the use of 'got' in these scenarios.
To me, 'got' feels too informal or colloquial to be used in our reports. Do I have any grounds for this accusation or is it purely subjective?
Our reports are US English, but I'd be interested in any rules concerning the topic for both US and UK English.
Best Answer
We should use was in both cases in formal writing.
get in Wiktionary sense 17 is stated as informal:
Some other dictionaries also have general statements on get being fairly informal.
Collins Dictionary has this note at the beginning of its definition of get:
Oxford Learners Dictionary has this note after its sense 27 definition: