I was listening to an interview with David Walliams of Little Britain on the radio the other day. He was talking about his swim to Africa through the Strait of Gibraltar with James Cracknell for Sport Relief.

Listening to him reminded me of the classic sketch of Vicky Pollard being questioned by her school teacher about her homework. Her infamous “No But Yeah But” response occupied my mind whilst I was driving, and I began to ponder on why it was such an memorable selection of words.

I think it’s down to the word “But”. It’s a funny little word isn’t it.

It draws us into a struggle with our thoughts and feelings by pitting one set of private events (knowing you haven’t written the essay) with another (saying you’ve done it).

“But” literally means that which follows contradicts what went before. And that’s what is so classic about the Vicky Pollard sketch; she is in a permanent state of conflict. And she uses a word that we all use all the time. Think about how much you say, “Yes, but…” and ask yourself how you’re contradicting yourself?