Should I use got or was in the sentence below?
Many years thereafter, he
... promoted to [...]
This might be somewhat related to this question, but I'm not sure.
After reading some of the answers, I realize that I should have specified that I am writing a paragraph for a formal, business-related biography. If I would like to emphasize that the promotion was earned; would it be more natural to use got? I am asking, because people seem to perceive got as the less formal option, whereas, to me, was implies an "effortless" promotion.
To me, it becomes a debate of what I would like to emphasize:
"They promoted him because he deserved it." (Got)
"They promoted him because they had to." (Was)