Oh how this irritates me! Radio interview answers invariably start with a pause, then “...So.....” “So” is then repeated ad nauseam Even when “so” might have been acceptable, it has become like fingernails on a blackboard!
artnan13. Me too - Hate 'gift' being made a verb! It was "gifted" to me!! Yuk! But I've had to accept 'medal' being used thus. And I start sentences in conversational chats such as here with 'but and 'and'. I enjoy breaking the rules from schooldays! However much I dislike some of the weird ideas, I have to suppress my own foibles and agree with Annaram1 "English is an evolving language," We don't want to have a department that authorises what we are allowed to say. Even if I don't like some of the new ideas that come along! I have to accept that growing old does mean becoming like the "old" people of my youth - an old fuddy duddy!
So, (tee hee) I've also been deliberately flouting some of the restrictive rules we had at school! I started this after a craze of reading Irish literature. Not because I saw it there, but because one needs freedom!! The language in Irish lit. is beautiful. I recommend "The Temporary Gentleman" by Sebastian Barry to start you off...
Ellianne. You have explained why I say it. I used to spend time in France, often correspond with French friends but sadly they are dying off! I often think in French, hence, I write that word!
Not long ago, I'm sure we were protesting the overuse of 'well...' to introduce a statement. Well, that has disappeared to be succeeded by 'so...' which will also run its course. What next?
My GD, who is doing a law degree, gabbles at a great rate of knots, interspersed with ‘like’ at irregular intervals. I have told her that she will make a rotten solicitor if she doesn’t get a grip! My pet peeve is the use of ‘sh**’, as in ‘get my sh** together’ etc. I find it repulsive.
In London a lot of the young people finish a sentence with "init" . The Welsh, especially the N Welsh have always finished with "isn't it" The first I find annoying. The second endearing. ?
I cannot stand the use of the f word so frequently nowadays even by educated people. When I was five we had some workmen in and I got a good hiding for repeating their use of the word. Also “like “ every other word. What annoys me is the use of the word “only” on every price ticket in shops now. The English language has changed tremendously during my life time.
I too dislike the overuse of ‘so’ and also I am noticing more and more people, well spoke most of the time, but replacing ‘th’ with ‘f’. Examples ‘everyfing’ and ‘nofing’. Also ‘with’ becomes ‘wiv’. I do not get it!
I notice 'Well' much more than 'So'. But 'I went' for 'I said' annoys me more than either. And even more irritating than 'can I get' is the reply 'No problem' - why would it be a problem to serve what is there to be sold? Also 'sign there for me' - where did 'for me' come from?
I think once you notice this sort of thing it’s really hard not to ‘hear’ it and it drives you potty! If I comment on it (eg someone who kept saying ‘like’ every other word!) people then say, oh I never noticed them doing that!
Completely agree about the annoying use of ‘so’ at the start of a sentence. It seems to be spreading at a great speed and it’s not just youngsters either. I’m afraid that I can’t stop myself shouting at someone being interviewed on TV or radio when they start off with so. Even the interviewers do it! Don’t get me started on ‘get’ ?