The Notable Blogger

Archive for the ‘Grammar Pains’ Category

It has become commonly accepted in everyday English to…well, to mutilate the English language. This grammarian takes a stand!

Today’s victim: misuse of “so” as a modifier.

Huh?

When describing how great, small, cute, hungry something is, using the word “so” alone is vague and so not right.

Example from my own life:

Child/student: “Mommy, that pizza was so good!”

What that child/student should have said was “Mommy, that pizza was so good that it totally reminds us how blessed we are to have you.” (Hey, a Mom can dream!)

The second half of the sentence, beginning with “that,” legitimizes the use of the word “so” by qualifying just how good that pizza is.

Next time someone dangles a “so” in front of you, simply return with a qualifying question.

Here is another example from real life:

Child/student: “Mommy, that book is so interesting.”

Mother/teacher: “How interesting is it? Is it extremely interesting, mildly interesting, or so interesting that you can’t put it down?”

Child/student: “Ugh, Mommy, that is so annoying!”

Mother/teacher: “How annoying is it?”

Child/student: “That is so annoying that it’s giving me a rash!”

Mother/teacher: “Yes! Thank you!”

So…that. Use them together. Ease a grammarian’s pain.