SO - one for the academics

[Donnywolf]

It is a pet hate of mine that people have now started answering nearly every question with the word "SO"

A very nice, young and obviously well educated Marine Biologist has just been on and answered probably 90% of her questions with an answer that started .... SO.

If they asked what she had eaten for Breakfast she would no doubt have said - SO I just had egg chips and Beans !

Other people must have noticed but is it a grammatically correct way to start a reply whether written or spoken ?

[nightporter]

So, I've noticed this a lot on TV shows like Pointless.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

So, this happens far too often, it's one of my pet hates.

[darren61]

Ive noticed the police start a question with so during interveiws. So Darren.

[RedJ]

People who use "of" instead of "have" deserve to be chemically castrated then shot in the face.

[hoolahoop]

People who use "of" instead of "have" deserve to be chemically castrated then shot in the face.

 'So' I will go with that one too Red. Both horrible , can I add another one ....So I'm going to bed ME !
Why add the " ME " ?

[Donnywolf]

... and why go in a Cafe and say "can I get a Latte please". I would lose many customers by saying "NO I will get the f****r" for you - please just stay there"

I kinda sort I think I would anyway but probably I would like not say that but like sort of get them a Latte anyway. I think its like Friday so I will like go for a Pint. I may need one

[NickDRFC]

A bigger bugbear for me is when someone ends a sentence with so when they have absolutely no intention of saying anything else.

"We were going to go out in Leeds last night but ended up staying in Doncaster, so..."

So what? SO WHAT?

Also really don't like how much "to be fair" is used. People don't use it when evaluating the other side of the coin any more, they just use it to start a sentence. Too many "y'knows" and "likes" about for my tastes as well.

[Donnywolf]

Ive noticed the police start a question with so during interveiws. So Darren.

You are right but that is probably acceptable to start a question with but (even with Grade 2 English Language from 1967 ish) I am not sure whether it is acceptable to start an answer with as well. Is it another USA import ?

Better than " F*****g hell yeah - I have just had Bacon Egg and Beans" I suppose

[Donnywolf]

A bigger bugbear for me is when someone ends a sentence with so when they have absolutely no intention of saying anything else.

"We were going to go out in Leeds last night but ended up staying in Doncaster, so..."

So what? SO WHAT?

Also really don't like how much "to be fair" is used. People don't use it when evaluating the other side of the coin any more, they just use it to start a sentence. Too many "y'knows" and "likes" about for my tastes as well.

Yes especially "we like went Clubbing the other night" or we "like sort of went for a few Drinks"

You can also include the "odd" inflection at the end of a sentence that Aussies seem to have given our Language too where the speaker appears to be asking a question even though its a statement they have made. I cant do an example in writing but people will like / sort of / kind of know what I mean !

[i_ateallthepies]

Drives me mad too Wolfie.  And like the example you gave, it seems most commonly used by (mostly) young educated people who really ought to know better.  In the context of this use the word 'so' can be substituted for the word 'therefore'.  Start each answer with 'therefore' and it makes no grammatical sense at all, in just the same way that 'so' makes no sense.

[drfchound]

I saw that young woman (Lauren I think) on the tv.
I was saying to Mrs hound at the time that the use of "so" at the start of a response or even in opening a conversation, drives me nuts.

[not on facebook]

I have come to conclusion that you are all nut jobs in this thread so Iam fcuking off back to lucky pint thread

[drfchound]

That is good for me.