I've noticed a new trend in extemporaneous speech. It's the habit of start a statement or conversation with the word so. I've noticed myself doing it, and I am making a conscious effort to stop, just as if I were saying "uh" frequently. My technique for now is simply to pause half a beat before speaking, to give myself time to filter the word out if I was about to use it.
The problem is that so is a conjunction, and should usually be used to join. When you start out with it there is nothing to join, unless you are building your sentence on something someone else just said.
Yes, if you pick up this habit you will sound trendy, but you will also sound shallow. Do not let the crowd or a habit control your speech. While I was writing this little entry I found myself ready to type "so" at least four times, but quick reflection helped me make other choices. It didn't take long to edit my phrasing, but it helped me stop going to my default. Now I've got a reflective practice I can use for other areas of my writing and speaking. I hope you will try it too.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for adding your input to the blog. Your comment will be posted as soon as it is reviewed by the moderator.