DR. SHELLY ARNESON AUTHOR AND CONSULTANT
  • Home
  • Blogs and News
  • Workshops
  • Consultation
  • Shop
  • Links
  • Contact Information
  • Dissertation
Picture

Happy Communicating
​

So...what do you think?

5/23/2014

0 Comments

 
If they said it on the Today show, then it must be true, right?  
A couple of weeks ago, they reported that the word "So...." is one of the over-used words in 2014.  Now, we're not talking about the use of "so" in a sentence like, "My dishes were so dirty, they were about to revolt and wash themselves."  Or even "I paid cash for the shoes so my husband wouldn't see the receipt" (this isn't necessarily true confession time, but what the heck?)

No, I'm talking about the use of the word at the beginning of a sentence, maybe even at the beginning of a speech or talk or lesson "So, today, we are going to talk about....".  While the use of "so" has been trending this year, that is not necessarily a good thing, especially if it becomes the thing we do.  Anne Curzan, a linguist professor at the University of Michigan, says we ought to be careful with our use of such a word as our audience may begin to pay attention more to the amount of times we say it versus the message we are really trying to convey (http://college.usatoday.com/2014/02/14/so-why-is-everyone-saying-so/).  Uh-oh!  Houston, we may have a problem.

Now that I am aware of it, I hear it all over the place, and that ummm....er....includes when I listen to myself!!

Not to mention these other over-used gems:

  1. “At the end of the day” – What does that even mean? Does it mean later? Just leave it out!
  2. “To be honest” – Why, are you normally not honest with me? What a crazy thing to say!
  3. “If you know what I mean” – If I don’t know what you mean I would probably tell you. I don’t need a prompt.
  4. “You know” – Is this a question or a statement?
  5. “Having said that” – Yes, you have just said that. I was here, you have been speaking to me and I don’t need you to tell me that you have just said something to me!
  6. “Like” – This is especially annoying if it is inserted a number of times into every single sentence. Why, oh, why?
  7. “Literally” – Should mean ‘figuratively’ or exactly as you say. It makes so sense to ‘literally explode’ or to ‘literally die’.
  8. “I am just saying’” – Yes, I have heard it. Should this make me feel better about the fact that you have just offended me or said something that didn’t make sense?
  9. “Seriously” – Are you saying that you are telling me the truth or are you using it as a replacement for ‘yeah’ – I am, like, seriously confused!
  10. "I mean" – Some people litter this phrase into every single sentence they say. It must be one of the most meaningless phrases of all.

https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130909060308-64875646-stop-don-t-use-these-words-they-re-so-irritating

I think the caution is that we tend to be using these words or phrases as pauses or natural breaths.  Why not just take the time to breathe and pause, instead?  
As a dear friend, Michelle, always says, "Everyone has a 'thing' they do or say." I think the trick is to be sure your thing isn't the most annoying one of the bunch.  

So....(see, it's right there, all the time, ready to rear its ugly head)...what is your thing? 

Just for today, perhaps we can recognize one of our bad communicating habits and maybe not put it completely to rest but at least tone it down a bit.  I'm just sayin.....

Happy Communicating!!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Shelly Arneson

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos from shixart1985 (CC BY 2.0), Tjeerd, Johnragai-Moment Catcher, UnknownNet Photography, Mr. Bombdiggity, wuestenigel, quinn.anya, Chocolate Geek, Jorbasa, Leonard J Matthews, JefferyTurner, Golf Resort Achental, fabola, www.ilmicrofono.it, m01229, Heinrich Plum, Titanic Belfast, Strocchi, Cultural viewpoints from around the world, katrienberckmoes, fabola, susivinh, fourcroft, Sweet Dreamz Design, usarjnco, Eldriva, symphony of love, cordalth, boellstiftung, David Holt London, maryjohum, Tony Webster, Rich.S., ZK-OJQ, davidmulder61, garryknight, ChrisPerriman, mrkrndvs, goatling, YellowstoneNPS, Frederick Homes for Sale, Mary_on_Flickr, yourbestdigs, Dean Hochman, guillenperez, Janitors, rachaelvoorhees, shixart1985, FootMassagez, marcoverch, classroomcamera, Rodrigo Soldon 2, symphony of love, formulanone, Ivy Dawned, wuestenigel
  • Home
  • Blogs and News
  • Workshops
  • Consultation
  • Shop
  • Links
  • Contact Information
  • Dissertation