Why do so many people start every sentence with 'So' these days?

In London you hear
"Not being funny but".......
It does my head In!!

Does it mean: stop whatever you're doing and listen to me?

Cause everyone's feeling so so right now

Actually, in Australia everyone starts sentences with 'actually'.

Well I've noticed recently that politicians who do , do so as a means of evading a direct question or reframing the terms of discussion.

i.e. "So I don't agree with your premise , and here's how I'm going to answer instead ..... "

In Australia we start sentences with 'actually.' Total redundancy most of the time. My brother-in-law immediately says, 'Please don't call me Ashley.'

"So" at the start of a question often marks the beginning of a new topic that one of the parties wants to discuss, often called an "interactional agenda," according to Bolden.

"So how was your day?"

'The word is a marker of cause and result,' says Dr. Gardner-Chloros. 'Someone who starts an answer with “so” is marking that what he's saying is coherent with what came before — the question. He's saying what he wants to say, like a politician — but trying to make it sound like it's an answer to the question.

[Results of Google search]

In Western Germany, many sentences end on "..., ne'?" or "..., wo'?", its slang for "nicht?/not true?" or "woll?/isn't it so?"

I’m glad it irritates other people too. I hate it.

I notice it as well. Ugh!

Many Australians start sentences with 'Actually,...'

My brother-in-law responds, 'Stop calling me Ashley.'

drives me up the wall

no never did ,,

I know I do that, probably because it’s how I might begin a story or tale about an event.

Or "At the end of the day" before a sentence

Or ANYWAYS🙄 GRRRRR

So, like I was literally starting my sentence with so and she like criticised me

That has always been a thing

comments starting with "so" incoming in 3..2...1.... :P

And why do flight attendants begin every sentence with “Once again...”?

It bothered me for a couple of years, but I can ignore it most of the time now. The exception is when a person being interviewed begins every sentence with "so...."

It sets a tone of familiarity and informality. Like you're sitting down with a friend, having coffee and chatting.

Or women who start conversations with.... haven't you been listening to me....🤷‍♂️

I know I do this it allows me a moment to gather my thoughts... "So..."

You really need to get out more hun! 🤷‍♀️

Australians start every sentence with 'actually'.

It's thinking space or sometimes a tactic to break into the conversation.

Interesting - did you know that the thinking sounds (in English, um, ah, etc) are drawn from the vowel sounds of the language you speak?
So you'll hear the French, for example, when they're thinking use the vowel sound from 'oeuf'.

and don't forget the double "Sooooo, Like"

So why do you think they do that?

ugh, yes I hate it.

So they can annoy you☺️

That's funny my daughter and I were just discussing this the other night. She was getting ready for a mock interview at school and she does that a lot. She also uses "Like" in about every other word. Now that it's been pointed out she is really trying to curb it.

Lol I’ve not heard that

Well............
Lol

is that so bad ?:)

When I wrte video scripts for work, I use it as a transition from one person to the next. Its just conversational, too. But I know there is one man who hates that so I don't use on his parts as speaker!

I do that at times, and when I catch it I go back and delete the "so" as it is truly unnecessary. Hate when I do that, and I have no reason on why I do that

I find myself using it a lot lately, mostly when texting. I think I use it to get the person's attention and let them know a question or statement is coming

Lol, once you have this in your mind, you probably won't shake it off and it will become a self perpetuating source of irritation for you. Poor you!

I noticed that to it’s fucking weird. Where did it come from?
So your very observant aren’t you.

Lol funny how you notice certain things... and dont know how to just say stop it without being rude

I first noticed it on NPR in the states. All the "hip" folks was doing it, then it spread. I don't get it either.

They're like, literally, asking a question. And opening it up to, like, interpretation.

That's a good question, I don't know. I guess it's similar to saying 'like' every third word or something.

I do that sometimes because it’s like a continuation of a conversation.

I’ve not noticed this before but no doubt it will be bloody everywhere lol

Sometimes I’m bad for that. I generally do it when I’m trying to get someone’s opinion.

It seems like everyone on TV starts their sentences with this. It drives me crazy.lol

Sooooo Jane. How are you today?!! Hahaha🤣🤣🤣. Just kidding. Lol. Pm me. Let’s chat😁