Monday, May 1, 2017

So,

So, a while back a got a query in a comment on another post (https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2239062544101975016#editor/target=post;postID=3182154624480010533;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=7;src=postname) asking why I started all my posts with "So,"

The answer is simple; the explanation a little less so.

Basically, I fell into the habit of doing so in the early days of this blog (right at ten years ago now) and decided to retain it as distinctive, a part of my 'voice'. I'm also under the impression that I use it a fair amount in my daily speech.

The reason why I'm in the habit of using it is that I like the effect it gives of joining a conversation. Technically 'so' is a co-ordinating conjunction (like and, but, or, for, nor, and sometimes so and yet) yet I use it more like a conjunctive adverb (like however, nevertheless, on the other hand, &c). A sign of this is that when two sentences are joined with a co-ordinating conjunction, the conjunction is preceded with a comma.* But when two sentences are joined by a conjunctive adverb, the conjunctive adverb is preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.** Thus I'm using one part of speech but presenting it like another part of speech.

There's also the consideration that picky prescriptive grammarians disapprove of starting a sentence with a co-ordinating conjunction, despite the fact that the practice goes back a long way  (it's endemic in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). So it's a small example of doing my part to reclaim a usage -- like ending a sentence with a preposition when that's the most natural word order.

Thanks to Clive S. for the query. And by the way, Clive, you're right in that well would be a very close parallel to my usage of so).

So, hope this helps.

Yrs,
John R.




*"He reads a lot of Tolkien, and also enjoys Dunsany."
**"He reads a lot of Tolkien; also, he enjoys Dunsany.


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5 comments:

  1. WurmbrandMay 2, 2017 at 11:41 AM

    "So" may be included in some lists of coordinating conjunctions, but it's more of a subordinating conjunction. As you indicate, it implies a statement follows immediately that is related to something already said, and I would add that the implication is that the statement following is a consequence of what was said. I think there is less historical justification for the usage that starts a sentence with a subordinating conjunction (and I would include "so") than for starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. However, the "so" has become such a characteristic of your blog style that you might want to retain it. Hope that helps.

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  2. Deniz BevanMay 4, 2017 at 11:39 PM

    I like your explanations!
    I've been using the same series of drop caps for quite a few years now -- I can't imagine not doing it, for it would break the visual continuity. But I'd like to find some new drop caps, too.

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  3. N.E. BrigandMay 6, 2017 at 12:38 PM

    I hadn't noticed this, but not that you mention it, I am reminded of Seamus Heaney's decision to use "So" for "Hwaet" as the first word of his famous translation of Beowulf.

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  4. John D. RateliffMay 7, 2017 at 6:13 PM

    Dear W.
    Didn't you start the last sentence of your comment with a conjunctive adverb ('However,')?

    Dear D.B.
    There's something to be said for a purposeful stylistic choice, sez I.

    Dear N.E.B.
    I had not noticed that; fun point. Thanks for sharing.

    --John R.

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  5. John D. RateliffMay 7, 2017 at 6:16 PM

    By the way, I noticed back when reading UNFINISHED TALES for the first time that Tolkien has a slight but distinctive tendency to occasionally start a sentence with'But'. I don't think I've ever seen anyone comment on this; it's my impression that the tendency grew on him in his later years.

    --John R.

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