So, a needle pulling thread.

“So” is the universal way of beginning an awkward conversation.

Reminds me of Ralph on The Simpsons talking to Lisa: “So…do you like…stuff?”

I probably automatically start a lot of questions with “so”, especially if my question is not as well-thought out. “So” is also a word of many uses and has many different meanings. So I can’t say I really dislike it.

I wondered about it the 5th time I heard it. It started fairly recently. I noticed it beginning with questions being answered by educators in the science area. It’s spread since then to the tech world. It’s a newer version of um. l don’t think anything can be done about it.
I also find the change in meaning of the word issue to mean problem instead of topic annoying. Language changes. We’re just old enough to notice it as it’s happening.

Ok so like here’s the thing ‘ya? Folks from different areas have inflections ingrained into their parts of speech that come out when they write. Well, I reckon that’s just part of life.

I don’t mind it and I’m sure I use it from time to time.

I hate when people start a sentence with “actually.” It’s unnecessary, but my problem with it is that there’s a certain level of condescension to it that really bugs me. It just makes me want to reply with, “Actually, you’re an ass.”

I like the word so, it is useful for beginning a sentence. However, there are conditions, you can’t just use it for any old reason.

Personally, I use “so” as short for “with the aforementioned in mind” or “based on that information”.

E.g. “Bob is about 15 kilos heavier than Steve, and he has military and martial arts training, not to mention all the time he spends in the gym. Steve mostly watches porn and eats doritos.

So, I think we all know what is going to happen when they eventually fight each other.”

It is often used instead of “thus” and “therefore” at the start of a sentence. I would think one would have to have extremely thin skin if a small thing such as this were to annoy them. I would have the fainting couch readied for the really important conversations.

I use it. I do think it can easily be overused though.

In my family there is kind of a joke about it because my neice when she was very young would tell a looong story and stand up and get all animated, and barely take a breath, and then finally pause. We thought she was done, and then she would say “so” or “then” kind of sing song and drawn out (actually it was all in Spanish, she would say “entonces”) and continue on with her long winded babbling story. It was super cute! My husband and I still mimic how she used to say it, we do it in English and Spanish, when we know our stories are getting long.

It’s not so recent a phenomenon, @Sunny2. According to the article I cited in my question, it’s discussed in a 1999 book and was probably used by computer programmers long before that.

It irritates me. It feels like the writer is assuming a familiarity that isn’t there.

So. I, um, actually do this rather frequently. Actually, I do the “actually” thing, too. <hangs head in shame> In my defense, I grew up in the 80s, and used to say “like” way too much. So, like, this is actually an improvement, haha.

I much prefer the sentence starter that Harry S. Plinkett uses: “Hey Asshole!”

In Japanese “so” means “really.” “So ka” means “really?”

If we are talking about spoken English, it doesn’t bother me at all. I expect people to speak less formally than they write. If we are talking about written English, however, using “so” as an opening interjection is rarely—if ever—the most elegant way of constructing a sentence. Might as well put in the extra effort unless the textual exchange is entirely casual.

So? It was Peter Gabriel’s best album.

I hear what everyone’s saying and don’t disagree with much of it, but all I’m saying is, in the case of @ucme‘s question, ”So, what do YOU have sitting on the dashboard of your car?”—and I’m only using that as an example, not trying to single anyone out—why start the sentence, especially the written sentence, with a word that to my mind has absolutely no purpose and adds absolutely no meaning?

So so.

I agree that actually starting a sentence with “so” is moot.
However, I do like the long, drawn out version of “sooo” usually intended to impart some measure of sarcasm, as in “Sooooo, are you always this difficult or are you just having a bad day?”

“So what?” would be also be acceptable. haha

@Pachyderm_In_The_Room Guess I was slow picking up on it. Plus my time sense is out of whack when it comes to years. hanging my head in chagrin.

It’s a lazy way of jumpstarting your sentence, similar to “actually,” “basically,” “you know” and “like.” The words are meaningless but give you a brief moment to decide what you actually want to say.

I find it more acceptable (although still basically annoying) to to hear these tics in spoken English than in writing where one does have time to consider.

So, here’s what I really think. I very rarely, if ever, use that way of beginning my questions.
I did it in the question @Pachyderm_In_The_Room mentions without any thought, just a random decision. Now that this question raises it as an issue though, I have a clear view on it’s use. This place has a strong community vibe, therefore a relaxed, informal approach can sometimes be the way to go, comes across as warm & friendly.
So yeah, that’s what I think & you know, that’s not so bad now is it?

@Sunny2, lift up your head again. I know what you mean about time sense.

I really do not like a sentence or conversation that is started with this type of opening comment.