"So"

[Ether]

I see an increasing number of students starting their posts with the word "So", as in "So our team decided to ...".

Is this a new fad? In what part of the country did it originate? And, is there any chance it might overtake the (mis)use of the word "like" ?

These questions haunt me.

[Nate Laverdure]

It is a fad!

Very observant of you. I didn't notice the trend until I read this article (http://anand.ly/articles/so-pushes-to-the-head-of-the-line) (which I was brought to by this Boing Boing post (http://boingboing.net/2010/06/17/origins-of-using-so.html)) by Anand Giridharadas of the New York Times a while back.

[Taylor]

I'm willing to accept using the word "so" to start sentences. However, I will not abide by people who end their sentence with that word.

[MrForbes]

It's not just students, lots of older folks do it to.

I notice that I do it sometimes.

[wilsonmw04]

So, yeah. Like, this is how kids talk now days...

Can you get hip to the new scene, Daddo?



All joking aside, give it 6-12 months and it will go away.

[Nate Laverdure]

However, I will not abide by people who end their sentence with that word.
I'm sure that's not entirely so. Now, misusing "effect" and "affect"-- that bothers me so! Don't you say so?

(hehe)

[Ether]

All joking aside, give it 6-12 months and it will go away.

So, I'm like, like "like" went away after 6-12 months?

[wilsonmw04]

So, I'm like, like "like" went away after 6-12 months?



fair enough, but I think fads come and go faster now days.

[compwiztobe]

I'm sure that's not entirely so. Now, misusing "effect" and "affect"-- that bothers me so! Don't you say so?

(hehe)

That and "defiantly" :mad: ...

Our cross country, track and field, and nordic skiing coach for four years had some interesting speech patterns that involved ending most of his sentences with "so" or "so yeah... so." Great coach, though.

[JaneYoung]

'So' used in the manner in which you are referring - at the beginning of post - can be very effective. It can be used as a continuation of a conversation or discussion. Dean Kamen has used it effectively, in my opinion, building a bridge of discussion between seasons.

Jane

[Ether]

'So' used in the manner in which you are referring - at the beginning of post - can be very effective. It can be used as a continuation of a conversation or discussion.

So true! But I should have been clearer: I was referring to posts which start a new thread,
where the "So" has no backward context.

[JaneYoung]

So true! But I should have been clearer: I was referring to posts which start a new thread,
where the "So" has no backward context.




Maybe not where we (the CD community/readers) could see it and follow.

I don't have a problem with the use of "So". It's the "HELP!!!!!!" titles that tend to be frustrating to me. I'm never sure whether to call 911 or not. :)

Jane

[nitneylion452]

I can't stand trends like these. It is so annoying when someone uses "like" every other work. Like really. You like need to learn like how to speak English right. I'm a bit of a self proclaimed grammar Nazi and sentences like that last one get under my skin.

[EricVanWyk]

I always thought that so and like were being used like umm and err - as filler noise as the brain finished creating the sentence. I'm not sure how that maps to typed dialog...