[Closed] Is this really how to start a sentence?

It's all in the intonation, innit?

Sorry to harp on, but I'm in the gripe mood tonight.
People who begin a sentence or start to answer a question with. "So"
How annoying and frankly condescending is that?

And your OP started with the letters S and O.

Brilliant 🙂

Look; we have to move with the times on this and, in honesty, griping about it just makes you look like a poor team-player

Is starting a sentence with 'so' any worse than starting one with 'is'?

But as has been said, it's in the intent - language is what you make it - there aren't really any rules so long as you broadly follow guidelines.

Not as annoying as starting it with 'OK'.

there's a bloke at work who starts about 50% of his sentences with "Go with me..."

NO! YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SAY SOMETHING I DISAGREE WITH YOU GREASY OBNOXIOUS SOD!!!!

So, what's wrong with it exactly? 😉

Or "look"

Like, I..

So, I don't find it as annoying as, like, someone who,... stay with me, ends a sentence early before the full. "Stop". Init.

It's when someone starts a sentence with 'listen' that I instantly stop listening.

I wouldn't use it in a formal manner, like writing a report at work, but what's wrong with it on an internet forum where a more casual use of the language is probably the norm....?

So many people now begin their sentences this way, I doubt you'll convince them to change their ways.

wait till he sees what people write in their text messages. He's gonna have a heart attack

Weeellll 😕 I suppose you could look at it that way

So.Do we understand?

Doesn't annoy me as such, very little does, but I find it very hard to take someone seriously who does it. Comes across as a bit of a "delay" indicating a lack of ability to think fast mid conversation.

It's not as annoying as people who say "I was like...." as a lazy way of explaining what was happening.

It's an American business-ism. Loads of people at work (US company) use it because they give presentations and the like with and to their US customers or colleagues.

Whilst annoying, it's not as bd as the Aussie lift at the end of a normal sentence.

Or poor grammar.

Well said OP, it is infuriating and indeed condescending. It is a conjunction and therefore the speaker can only be trying to imply that his new subject follows on from a thought that is already underway, ie his assumption is that his audience is thinking about his subject already. How arrogant. That is how I interpret it, anyway.

It drives me mad and its (ab) use in starting threads on here is suddenly a plague. Not quite as bad admittedly as the intolerable abuse of "like".

And breathe.

It's better than, "i'm not a racist, but" 😀

My line manager at work invariably starts his sentences with 'So' all the way through our team meetings.

I think it's his alternative to 'Um' or 'Erm' when he's formulating what to say.

Doesn't do it in normal conversation though, just when spouting in meetings.

Also addresses his team as 'Men' in emails (i.e. "Well done, men" after some good results are published). After which point I can't help reading them in Captain Mainwaring's voice.

Alors, I blame the French.

muzzle - Member
Not as annoying as starting it with 'OK'.

Is it? Is it really?

😉

Language in evolution shocker. Why don't you complain to the Academie Anglaise?

People who begin a sentence or start to answer a question with. "So"

That isn't a sentence.

In Glasgow, most sentences start with a strip search, cold shower and being shown to the cell you will share with Big Jamsie....... 😯

[i]That isn't a sentence.
[/i]
So true.

CaptainFlashheart - Member

People who begin a sentence or start to answer a question with. "So"

That isn't a sentence.

I wasn't complaining about sentence structue, merely a personal view of the use of the word "so" as a prefix. I'm not claiming I can write any better myself. Get over yourself.

 

Sorry

How?

I'm OK with it. It's a bit too "creative writing" for the sticklers.

Or poor grammar.

Where's your verb?

So... starting a sentence with 'Listen' gets my goat, Tony Blair did it all the time. If you're speaking to me I'm already listening... OK?

d'you know what I can't stand..?

people who don't enjoy language, who pick it apart looking for stuff that doesn't fit with the expectations that their limited experience has imposed upon them..

this narrow attitude is a palsy on the face of communication and betrays a limited intelligence encumbered with pomp and prejudice..

So, did anyone order a saucer of milk for table five?

People who begin a sentence or start to answer a question with. "So"

True dat.

Get over yourself