Why do people start sentences with "So"?

[Solid D]

So for some reason during the last 8-10 years, more and more people have started using "So" to start their sentences.

So this is particularly true when someone asks a question and the response by the respondee is..."So, the...." as though they were interrupted when being asked the question and thus they start the response with "So" as though continuing their interrupted thought.

So why is that? So is there some sense of power retainment that comes from starting sentences, especially responses this way?

So this is very frustrating to people who learned in school not to start sentences with interjections.

So, as I was saying, does anyone have the answer?

[Jimcs50]

So, who gives a ?

[iminlakerland]

So your point is what? lol

[Guru of Nothing]

So, as I was saying, does anyone have the answer?

Earplugs

[pseudofan]

So what is it that you're trying to say?

So what if they like to start their sentences that way?

So that gives you a right to make it a topic?

So all the rest of us will have to read it and be as frustrated with it as you??

So really what you were hoping for was a boycott of the word so in the English language then?

[Ignite]

Sofa King

[ZStomp]

So ing what!

Well, I’ve been to hastings and I’ve been to brighton
I’ve been to eastbourne too
So what, so what
And I’ve been here, I’ve been there
I’ve been every ing where
So what, so what
So what, so what, you boring little

Well, who cares, who cares what you do
Yeah, who cares, who cares about you, you, you, you, you

Well, I’ve ed the queen, I’ve ed bach
I’ve even sucked an old man’s
So what, so what
And I’ve ed a sheep, I’ve ed a goat
I rammed my right down it’s throat
So what, so what
So what, so what, you boring little

Well, who cares, who cares what you do
And, who cares, who cares about you, you, you, you, you

And I’ve drunk that, I’ve drunk this
I’ve spewed up on a pint of piss
So what, so what
I’ve had scank, I’ve had speed
I’ve jacked up until I bleed
So what, so what
So what, so what, you boring little

Well, who cares, who cares what you do
Yeah, who cares, who cares about you, you, you, you, you, you

A-hahaha!

Yeah!

I’ve had crabs, I’ve had lice
I’ve had the clap and that ain’t nice
So what, so what
I’ve ed this, I’ve ed that
I’ve even ed a school girl’s
So what, so what
So what, so what, you boring little

Well, who cares, who cares what you do
And, who cares, who cares about you, you, you, you, you, you

So ing what!
Yeah

-Metallica

[tlongII]

It bugs the out of me too. I hear it all the time when people are giving presentations at work as well.

[T Park]

almost as annoying as people saying "you know" or "like"

More people are just degenerates now a days.

[gophergeorge]

"So, you know what I'm sayin?"

[travis2]

How about those for whom every sentence is a question? Even a statement of fact is said with the vocal lift at the end that turns it into a question.

[Spurminator]

I think it's more evidence of the influence of Seinfeld in our language.

[Solid D]

How about those for whom every sentence is a question? Even a statement of fact is said with the vocal lift at the end that turns it into a question.

Also known as "uptalk". Voice inflection elevates, particularly true with children telling a story who need to keep an audience. This, as opposed to "downtalk".

I hear it all the time when people are giving presentations at work as well.

This is where I hear it most often, tlongII. It seems to be pervasive in corporate culture.

[Spurminator]

I'm going to start beginning all of my sentences with "Thus..."

Better yet, "Thusly."

[JoeChalupa]

This thread is so so.

[travis2]

So?

[JoeChalupa]

So now I'm doing it.

[Shelly]

So ing what???

I love saying that.

[1369]

So ing what???

I love saying that.

I'm sure your kids do to....

Kid: "Mom! So-and-so did such-and-such to me!"
S y: "So ing what?"
Kid (Wandering off grumbling to him/herself): "Great, Mom's been in the cooking sherry again. Dad!?"

[Shelly]

My oldest informed me that I cuss more than his father.

When I'm pissed off, nobody is safe from the words that come out of my mouth. I'm not proud of it, but that's the way it is.

[gophergeorge]

(So) I also hate people who use the prepositional phrase "at" at the end of a sentence... as in: (So) Where is my car AT?

Just say... (So) Where is my car?

Damm it!

[Useruser666]

SOcially it's now acceptable.

[gophergeorge]

Oh... and "I ain't got no (whatever)"

How about "I don't have any....."

Christalmighty!

And when did "jack" become an adjective? As in "That's jacked up" ... and they are not talking about their car....

[Solid D]

I'm not an English teacher, so I am not really irritated as much by the technicality as much as I am irritated by the use of it as it reflects an at ude. Intended, or not, starting a response with "So" says - 'I'll continue MY thought now'...or 'As I have been saying' even though they have not been saying anything at all in those regards.

Um, the other uses of "So" to start a sentence can continue to blend in with American culture and carefree sentence structure along with all the other junk we say, I suppose, like starting sentences with "Um".

[bigzak25]

well, my buddy Paul that got fired here a couple years back would always use the phrase, "Yah?....And?....So?"


for example, when he would reply to statements such as the following:

hey Paul, did you fall asleep in the bathroom stall again? (which he would do)

hey Paul, an hour late again huh?

hey Paul, your back awfully late from lunch today....and yesterday...and the day before that....

hey Paul, is that cocaine? Yah?....And?....So?

i miss that bas ....

we also have a lady upstairs that likes to be a man among men, and she starts many of her sentences with So.

it does come off as an "okay, now that your done talking, i'm going to finish my thoughts as if you haven't said anything at all" kind of thing. to each their own i guess.