Is it even right to start a sentence with the word “So” …???
So!!! As a word can’t be used in the beginning of the sentence, a point that many of us might have heard a lot of times.
Often this word is used as a filler that fills the gap between the words or sentences just like other filler words, such as, ‘uh’s, uhmm’s, you know, actually, because, like, etc., and therefore is the word “so”.
However, ‘so’ is just not a filler! This little two lettered word has evolved so much that it holds many other meanings.
The most common use of “so” that we know is as a coordinating conjunction or a linking verb, however, there are other meanings & usages as well.
Let’s have a look at a few of them:
| So | Usage | Meaning |
| Consequence | with a general meaning of “therefore / ergo / hence / wherefore / thence / whence” | |
| Purpose | ‘So’ is used with a meaning of “In order that / So that / that” | |
| Addition | with a general meaning of “and also / as well as / moreover” | |
| Degree | It is used as an intensifier with a meaning similar to “very / sheer / utter” | |
| Confirmation / Agreement | with a general meaning of “it is true / it is the case / it is certain that / it is indeed” | |
| Discourse Marker | Interestingly we use “so, anyway, right, therefore, etc.” as a discourse marker to connect, organize, and manage what we say or write or to express attitude. |
Among all the above usages, the most interesting and likely not so popular one is the ‘Discourse Marker’. According to ielts.idp.com – Discourse markers are used to organize and manage what we are saying using words and phrases to connect ideas and to express how we feel about what we are saying. They are also used to help you think about what to say next using fillers correctly to sound natural in your delivery.
Now that we have established an understanding of what Discourse markers are. It is interestingly appropriate to start a sentence with the word “So”. However, you must know how to frame a discourse marker sentence.
Let’s look at a few examples of sentences starting with “So” in the beginning as discourse marker and see how they make our sentences more expressive and are correct in usage:
- “So, which beverage would you prefer to drink?”
- “So, I’ve decided I’m going to go to the office and ask boss for a hike.”
- So far we have kept the news within the family.
- “So, we’ve covered the nineteenth century and we’re now going to look at all the experiments in the novel in the early twentieth century.” – Taken from Cambridge.org
As per Cambridge.org, So is a very common discourse marker in speaking. It usually occurs at the beginning of clauses, and we use it when we are summarizing what has just been said, or when we are changing topic.
Things to keep in mind:
- Do not overuse any word, in doing so, word loses its value, also, when overused it also becomes a filler, and our recipients or audiences would get annoyed to hear the repeated usages.
- Know when to use punctuation (in the context of discourse marker – comma) and when not to when framing a sentence starting with any of the discourse markers both in verbal and written communication.
Conclusion:
It’s not wrong to start a sentence with word “So”, though, one must know when and how to frame a sentence with it without overusing it.
