I enjoy reading the Wow forums. People can come up with some interesting topics. But
there is one word that people say at the beginning of ever sentence that I find disturbing.
And that word is SO. I am not an English major. But just as an average person. This over-use of the word “so” is irritating and kinda jarring because it is unnecessary.
I also see people using the “so” in other social media. As well as on tv talk shows, the news
and people I talk to in person. What in the world started people talking like this?
Example:
Me: “Hi Bob. What do you think of the new Wow Flying Mount?”
Bob: “So, the mount looks good.”
Me: “Are you going to play a Orc or a Vulpera for your next character?”
Bob: “So, Im going to play a Vulpera.”
Me: “Bob. Why do you use the word so at the start of every sentence?”
Bob: "So, I dunno?
Why do people use this word in replies? What’s up with this “So” ?
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No idea, it reminds me of Abby Normal from the Blood Sucking Fiends books.
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No idea what you’re talking about to be honest… Nor any idea why it’s worth a forum post lol
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So, what shocks me is that there are three replies, from this usually reliable forum, that didn’t start out their posts with the word “so.”
Might I suggest you edit to correct that?
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so I like alleria windrunner. So awesome. So much character development. So many facets of her pesonality. So much tragedy.So many uses of the word so.
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Isn’t like a regional thing? Like how “y’all” used to be a Southern term but just made its way into the mainstream.
Because it’s how I speak. But I do try and catch myself and delete it when I’m writing.
So, I agree that it is surprising that everyone didnt clue in on this immediately. Its the way of the internet people!
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So like well umm, I forgot what I was gonna say…
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Essentially it allows for an interjection but in a shorter word. You can start a sentence with “so” for most forms of writing.
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The same reason people say “um”, it’s just part of the flow of conversation/communication happening in people’s minds. It’s the same reason a lot of people repeatedly start sentences with the word “actually”.
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It is unnecessary? Sure, but it doesn’t really matter. Like you said, it’s so common - who cares.
But people who use is instead of are? Now those people are fiends! Is, is only to be used when referencing a single thing - “How is Brenda doing?”. Are is to be used when talking about a plural thing (generally) - “How are the dogs doing?”.
People routinely use is when they really should be using are. It just grinds my gills!
In none of your examples does Bob use the word “so” correctly, and I have never heard anyone use it as such.
I have heard it used as a means to start discourse or to change subjects in conversation.
“So, how ‘bout those Yankees?”
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“So” usually prefaces an explanation of some sort, or is used to change the subject of a conversation. Some people use it because they hear other people speak that way and there’s honestly no real purpose for its existence in the sentence.
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Often “So” is used in the beginning of a sentence as a gotcha. The implication being “You just said a thing, therefore I’m going to uncharitably assume you really mean this other, objectionable thing, but since you didn’t actually say it I can’t quote you”
Example:
Player 1: I like the season 3 changes to crests! Weekly caps mean I don’t feel compelled to play all the time and I might even go outside!
Player 2: So you think I should have nothing to do in game just because you’re lazy?
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So. OP wants to know why so is the popular opener for text posts.
So. Let’s look at this question more closely. So means to a great extent : He was so derpy; OR it’s a conjunction: the bread was stale so she threw it away.
Now then. Because it’s a conjunction, the posters are using it to bring you into their train of thought. “My experience or opinion is XYZ, so, let’s talk about it.”
So, now we look at the formula. They start their statements mid stream, pulling you into the middle of their thought pattern in order to allude to the fact they’ve had moderate exposure to something that’s triggered all their musings.
So. Now that we see the prior explanation, the so at the very front of this paragraph becomes self explanatory.
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So, Like, you know, um, er.
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So how many times have you observed this?
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