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Slang Words A couple of Use of this phrase to mean more than two is slang. However, it can be properly used if it means two and only two: A couple of squirrels chased one another.  Firstly Firstly has been adopted into everyday language to replace the word first. Firstly, this would seem to necessitate a progression - secondly, thirdly, and one-hundredthly. Since this is an absurd notion, it's best to avoid saying firstly in the first place. It's not acceptable in formal writing and is awkward in speech. Use the sequence first, second, third, etc... instead.  Got Some writers use got to replace the word have: I got the flu. Got is undeniably slang. Have got or has got just compounds the problem: He has got a nice car. Use the words have or possess instead. Got the idea?