Starting sentences with "So..."

[murrmac123]

When did this become a "thing" ?

Ten years ago, nobody ever did this ... nowadays , it seems like every time I watch a TV interview, the participants invariably start their sentences with "So"

I do get that this post will spawn a whole load of responses beginning with "So" ... no worries.

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by murrmac123

When did this become a "thing" ?

Ten years ago, nobody ever did this ... nowadays , it seems like every time I watch a TV interview, the participants invariably start their sentences with "So"

I do get that this post will spawn a whole load of responses beginning with "So" ... no worries.

Yes, the leading "so" can take on a variety of meanings. It can mean "therefore" after giving an argument and closing with "So I'm right and you're wrong." It can start off a story out of the blue: "So I walked into this bar..." It can do a lot! So there!

[BrunoBlack]

Apparently in 1594.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_(sentence_opener)

Or 1343

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index....ing-sentences/

[Brucebubs]

So like basically .......

[Slothead56]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

So like basically .......

So, like, you took the words, like, right out of my mouth.

(How long until we get an “OK, Boomer”?)

[Mandobart]

Far worse is the standard practice of ending every sentence with an upward voice inflection, as is normally used when asking a question. Its present on nearly every interview I hear on radio or TV. It erases any evidence that the speaker may possess any confidence or authority.79th 79th

[Tyeetime]

I've wondered the same thing. I think it is the newest version of "well....."

[loco gringo]

"Yeah" is another one. There is or was a member of NPR's 1A that started every sentence with it. I quit listening to the show because of it.

[Shuksan]

Starting a sentence with "so" has been a thing for several decades at least, in my experience.

[Mr. Jelly]

Enjoy the rest of you day ……..

[frankmcr]

The questioning voice inflection always seemed to me to convey "do you understand what I'm telling you?" rather than "I'm unsure of what I'm telling you".

In any case, that's how I use it?

[CoffeeFan]

Drives me up a freakin' wall...

[joe white]

Yep, the "so" thing is everywhere. I hear it in most every interview on radio or TV. My daughters (30 and 31 years old) start every dang sentence with it. It's either the "so" thing or that wierd way they agree with you by saying
"I know,,right?"

[Silurian]

I want to know when "become a thing" became a thing.

[ChrisE]

All of those things mentioned drive me nuts. It especially bothers me when dialogue in a tv show or movie that’s set in the past uses them.

I believe I was watching “This is Us” and during a scene that was set in the 70’s a character said, “You got this!”

Oh—and another thing— I know young people (young meaning in their 30’s) that use the word “literally” way too often and out of context. “I literally had to wait like, forever, for the barista to make my iced mocha latte today. It was like literally the worst experience in my whole life!”