So you know this latest trend of starting sentences with “So”

[123autumn]

So you know how people do this? So I find it really annoying. So stop.

I'd highly advise you to never holiday to the Republic of Ireland.

I did last year, as it happens. Didn’t notice anyone overusing it.

Its definitely not a recent trend 😂

The vast majority of contestants on Pointless etc... seem to do this

'Tell us a little bit about yourself.'

'So, I'm a student ...'

So you know how people do this? So I find it really annoying.

So do I.

It seems to be a recent trend online. I’m noticing it more and more.

Well, have the you heard the equally annoying trend of starting sentences with well.

I’ve done it for decades, it helps me organise my ND thoughts. So fuck off.
To be fair it annoys me too but it’s way down my list of things to sort out.

The first person I remember doing this (around 20 years ago) was a French speaker living in the UK. I assumed that was a direct translation of French turns of phrase, but my French isn’t good enough to know!

I don’t mind the “So…” thing - I’m much more bothered by everyone saying “Can I get…” rather than “please may I have”.

It started in the media 12 years ago. I remember clearly when it began, I noticed it when I'd just got a new job and one person in particular had the habit. At first it sort of sounded relaxed and impressive, like someone with real mastery of their info. I probably even aped it for a while. And then it was EVERYWHERE.

So, when beginning to answer a question, annoying, but not as much as…
How are you? Good.
Good?? What at? I asked how you are not if you’ve an above average ability at something

So, you know how the word good can apply to lots of different things?

I'll preface this by saying that it isn't something that bothers me at all, albeit I'm not sure I do it a great deal. As long as I can understand what's being said to be and the person I'm speaking to is otherwise pleasant I really couldn't care less what verbiage they use or how academically correct or not the syntax is. I don't perceive this as a new or a trend though, it's been something in the orbit for years.

2015 article about the 'trend'.

I always sing “a needle pulling thread” after someone pauses after saying “so” 😂

Not a recent trend at all and I mainly hear technical/scientist types use it.

Just like politicians who start their sentences with 'look'

I'm very intolerant of such grammar oddities

People who use 'of' instead of 'with' eg I'm fed up of this. 😬😬

"Would you like a cup of tea?"
"No, I'm good."

😂I was just going to say that so.

I can't see the issue? Obviously they're saying 'I'm good thanks' but have just shortened it to good.

If someone asks me how I'm feeling today, the answer is...

So-so

I think the trend is about 15 or so years old, and it seemed to start in academia, and other contexts (such as R4 'Today' interviews) where it being 'your turn to speak' amounts to an invitation to begin a kind of mini-lecture that has to be set out rather methodically.
For that reason I always find it slightly pompous. It makes me afraid that the speaker is about to hold forth in a prolonged and mansplainy way. Increasingly, though, it is just a conversational habit that doesn't indicate a coming storm of words.

Someone mentioned Ireland upthread. I love the habit among some Irish speakers of putting 'so' at the end of a sentence but hadn't noticed a specifically Irish usage of 'so' at the beginning of a sentence? Is it in fact just the same usage that has also become popular in the UK?

Everyone is using the word said, its so annoying.
'So we went to a hotel at said hotel blah blah blah'

I actually think you hear it less now that you used to. There was a time, years ago pre COVID, when every interviewee on the radio used to do this and it drive me mad

Now I rarely hear it, thank goodness

Noticed this years ago. Horrible. The more recent one used by politicians is ‘look.’ Equally as horrid.

Eeek! Guilty as charged. 😎So, I've heard you, and will try harder ...

So, its like super annoying. Not as annoying as the loss of the word 'very' to demonstrate a pronounced state of something.