Cut that out! The one word we all overuse

"That" is such a useful word, used to connect clauses, as a stand-in for assumed knowledge, as a pronoun or subject in a sentence. "That" is like the cauliflower of the word world -- versatile, mild, and, in most cases, completely unnecessary. (Sorry, cauliflower, I still love you I just do not think you should be a pizza crust.)

Nearly every use of the word “that” can be cut. It's a useful word but it's usually not load bearing. There are four main situations where you can cut "that".

After reporting verbs

My boss told me that it was my turn to clean out his lizard's cage.

My boss told me it was my turn to clean out his lizard's cage.

After adjectives

I'm not happy that I have to clean out his lizard's cage.

I'm not happy I have to clean out his lizard's cage.

As an objective in a relative clause

I don't see why I have to look after the giant, ill-tempered monitor lizard that he bought!

I don't see why I have to look after the giant, ill-tempered monitor lizard he bought!

Compound conjunctions

I took this job so that I can get some marketing experience, the job ad said nothing about lizard duties.

I took this job so I can get some marketing experience, the job ad said nothing about lizard duties.

You don't need to actually know what a compound conjunction or a relative clause is to cut “that” out, you'll know intuitively while rereading if the sentence makes sense without it.

Why cut “that”?

Cutting out "that" is more of an aesthetic move than anything else. The example sentences with "that" in them are still clear. But over-reliance on "that" is a mark of an uncertain writer. If you reread the examples, the difference between them isn't clarity of meaning, it's elegance. The thatless sentences are snappier, they flow better, and they're consumed more easily.

TL;DR? You can cut most instances of the word "that" for smoother, silkier sentences.