Thursday, February 27, 2014

So?

Why do so many learned people seem to start every other sentence when they speak with the word "so"? It seems to be one of the latest trends. I hear students, professors, even NPR commentators do it.

If you think about it, though, it makes no sense. "So" is a coordinator. It coordinates something that came before with something that comes after.

She did this, so I did that.

Starting your conversation or comment with "so," then, doesn't make much sense.  Does it?