The epidemic of starting sentences with the word 'So'

[wobblywinelover]

I'm expecting a backlash of abuse for this one but it's a mild to moderate irritation of mine that everyone seems to be using the word 'So' when they start a conversation/post/sentence/explanation. It seems to have started this year and escalated.

examples-
'SO... today I went to visit xxx and did blah blah blah and it was amazing'

When asked a question -
'SO... it was like this, I had this problem and that problem so I did this and that and the other'

All the flipping time of late. AIBU to find this annoying? Everyone seems to have jumped on the bandwagon with this one and I can't help it makes people look like they're a bit full of themselves. Apologies if this has been done before

This grates on me too. I notice politicians and scientists etc on the news starting their answers in interviews with So which means they do not give a direct response to a direct question. It is indeed an epidemic of poor speech.

I totally agree @Cleebope2 it's also used as a diversion to a question which should need a simple answer. I know some people use it innocently but it's never got to me before now. It's become a habit with some people.

This used to annoy me a lot when I first noticed it, which was about 10 years ago, as I remember a couple of mums in my dd's primary class doing it, and dd is nearly 20. I've got used to it now as so many people do it, including myself occasionally - not on purpose, but I think it's hard not to pick up speech patterns from people around you. I think it's often just a space-filler to give people an extra second to think of an answer to a question, and to me it sounds better than 'err...'.

A similar thing I've noticed a lot more recently is putting the word 'no' at the end of a sentence to turn it into a question, as in "You'll finish that work by tomorrow, no?" I find it a bit rude and aggressive, because it's basically making a statement about what you want, and then the question part is a bit of an afterthought.

It's one of those things that people pick up, and don't realise they are doing it, I think.
It irritates me too - you're definitely not alone. I don't hear it as patronising though. Another one I've noticed lately on the radio is the word 'look'. Again it's just a bad habit I think.

I notice myself doing it. I don't really like it. But at the same time I struggle to find other ways to introduce a new topic into a conversation. The examples you give would feel quite bald without some kind of introduction.

I don't think it started this year and I don't know why you think it makes people seem full of themselves. Just the opposite I would say.

Ah. I've read a few more answers now. I don't think I would use it to answer a question. Only to start talking about something.

Yanbu. It's an irritation, a mild one, but still.

It’s awful. Just awful.

File it with the use of ‘like’ and ‘literally’ and turning sentences into questions by use of the rising inflection.

Also, that ‘vocal fry’ affectation which seems to be rife amongst young women. I believe the Kardashians are to blame for that one!

I recently interviewed (ten women over three days) for an Executive PA position. Oral communication was one of the key skills we were looking for, and at least six of the candidates lost many, many marks for combinations of the above.
I absolutely will not have anyone who adopts such lazy speech patterns representing my organisation.

The rest of the world, I can’t do anything about!

It's been happening for years and is irritating to me too.

Very much agree with you OP. As annoying as that is, its not quite as cringeworthy as the recent trend of saying the word literally in every sentence. Especially given 99.9% of the time it is used incorrectly.

I am completely with you on this OP.

It is annoying.

But not as annoying as 'wait'.
This is the third year running I've tried to stop children in my class starting every single bloody sentence with 'wait', and the first year I am failing to have any effect

Another irritation for me is 'You know what....? before answering a question.

I don't hear it in real life but all the participants and professional dancers in Strictly say it. Maybe it's a 'celeb' thing.

I like it. So there.

In conversation it replaces ‘um’ quite a lot.

I say so all the time especially on the phone. I can’t help it!

What worse in my opinion is the Facebook posts that go ‘when you’re... blah blah’ I can’t think of a good example but you know what I mean!

So... Um ... I use it when starting a difficult conversation. A beginning.

I don't use "like" or "literally". Although I'm surrounded by students that do.

I find it annoying but nowhere near as bad as "finking" instead of "thinking" etc!

I don't think I have met very many people who are able to speak without using any sort of filler at all ("like", "so", "er" etc) and the few I have met have sounded like machines. I don't mind it at all.

It really annoys me too.

I agree OP. I find the way people use it now adds absolutely nothing to the sentence.

I’m also irrationally irritated by newspaper articles on social media that use “here’s why” or “here’s what you need to know”.

I don't think I have met very many people who are able to speak without using any sort of filler at all

I think it’s more when people use it in writing, usually to begin a sentence, that’s just totally unnecessary.

As many PP have pointed out, it’s just a filler word. It annoys you, so you may be more sensitive about noticing it. Filler words go through periods of popularity. For a while, it was “like.” There’s also “um” or “er” or their Frankenstein’s monster “erm,” which I sometimes use.

People use “uh,” and “well,” but also “and well,” and “but” also, and “and” itself.

There are whole papers devoted to what different languages use for filler words.

What willow says - people just pick up on expressions - verbal, written, and physical, mostly subconsciously. I get infuriated by it too, mostly when people state an expression in a 'here and now' context, in the wish that they appear up to date and that possibly their view has greater importance. And don't even know that they have been subconsciously influenced by their choice of words.

Fit for Purpose, Clearly and Uptick are recent examples.

Physical Expressions - Hand in Face, the clicking fingers hand swerve, possibly with Head side to side movements have all gone mainstream in there usage. As well as a lack of Facial Movement...

There's loads really Tone, Metre and Pitch of Voice changes are also things I've noticed - but the worst for me is when a word is gramatically misused within a Context and therefore has a different meaning. And no one recognizes it.

I give you the word "Strategies", often misused in an Educational Context, specifically when enquiries are made about the"Strategies" used at Home.

No, it is not Strategies, it is A Strategy and if I was a General planning a Battle, playing a game of Chess and even a Parent dealing with an ASD dc it would still be A Strategy - a series of Actions that may produce various Results which you alter to suit your Strategy.

I may have mentioned the misuse of "Strategies" before several times now and then.