: Omitting "that" in fiction writing Is it always better to omit "that" when it's not neccesary in a sentence? Example: Erin realized she'd been so busy with work that she'd forgotten to check if her parents were OK.

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It is never "always" better to do anything in fiction.

"That" is a frequently overused word, but underuse is equally problematic. Whether a word is grammatically necessary (or even if it's grammatically correct) is less important than whether it improves or reduces the clarity of the thought being conveyed.

In this case, read the sentence out loud each way. If you find yourself needing to force the words out in an unnatural cadence for one version, then it's probably going to be difficult for your reader to parse.

I find the sentence has a more pleasing rhythm and is more easily understood with the "that" intact.