So, what's the problem with 'so'? | David Shariatmadari

BBC Radio 4 listeners (and John Humphrys) are fuming over an 'unwelcome linguistic epidemic'. In fact, it goes back as far as Beowulf

Another day, another linguistic bugbear held up for ridicule. This time, it's the harmless, modest, blink-and-you-miss-it word "so". What has this innocent syllable done to offend the British public? If you have been struggling to get through to the BBC recently it's because their switchboard has been jammed with complaints about it.

Here's Robert from Wakefield: "I have been increasingly irritated over the last couple of years by the increasing use of the word 'so' when prefacing a sentence." (I know how you feel Robert, I've been increasingly irritated by the increasing use of the word increasing). And Kay from Belfast: "I don't think 'so' is an appropriate word with which to begin a sentence."