Well!

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Bangkokhibby

Bangkokhibby

Just chillin'
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Joined
Oct 5, 2021
I've spoken about this before, possibly over on Taliban but there was a chat about it today in my local bar and it reminded me how much it bugged me.
If you are asked a question I bet you don't start a spoken answer with the word 'well'. "What do you think of Boris?" Nobody I know would respond "well......"
Do you agree with the SPFL split? Would you respond "well......"
You just wouldn't. Why then do the huge majority of interviewees, political correspondents, politicians etc on news programmes do it? Robert Jenrick (honest Bob) does it 100% of the time so does Ian King on Sky news.
Sorry if this doesn't strike a chord with anyone and maybe seems a bit daft. I can't unhear it now and it's spoiling my news watching.
Replies starting with "well" are obvious and boring 👍🥴🤬🙏
 
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Doc Shrink said:
The one that rips my knitting is the needless starting with “So” as some sort of introduction.
Well, maybe that’s just me.
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Nope, for me 'so' is the new 'well' (not Newell obvs).

Saying 'well' before you lsunch into what you have to say has been bog standard English as long as I've been around and from films seems at least the last century.

It is what is called a .'filler', as are 'er...' and 'look' or 'listen' at the start of sentences.

So I totally disagree with the OP and was just about to mention the new 'filler' king, 'so'.

The fact that us oldies notice that tells you it is a new generation thing. I can't believe you have never heard anyone starting a sentence with 'well', @Bangkokhibby ?
 
HaarlemShuffler said:
Nope, for me 'so' is the new 'well' (not Newell obvs).

Saying 'well' before you lsunch into what you have to say has been bog standard English as long as I've been around and from films seems at least the last century.

It is what is called a .'filler', as are 'er...' and 'look' or 'listen' at the start of sentences.

So I totally disagree with the OP and was just about to mention the new 'filler' king, 'so'.

The fact that us oldies notice that tells you it is a new generation thing. I can't believe you have never heard anyone starting a sentence with 'well', @Bangkokhibby ?
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I've never spoken to anybody face to face who have started a reply to a question with the word well, have you? and do you? As far as it being a filler it's often said so quickly you could almost miss it.
I agree "so" is the new "well" but it's used mainly by young ones and I've lost all hope they will ever speak proper English so just accept it.
 
Starting a sentence with "I mean" is a bit nippy too. Usually confined to the written word on social media, forums etc as opposed to something you'd hear anyone say in person though.
 
Bangkokhibby said:
I've never spoken to anybody face to face who have started a reply to a question with the word well, have you? and do you? As far as it being a filler it's often said so quickly you could almost miss it.
I agree "so" is the new "well" but it's used mainly by young ones and I've lost all hope they will ever speak proper English so just accept it.
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I do use 'well' and regularly hear it from English speakers (and older Dutch English speakers). Eg on the phone, someone asks you what you dud the day before. You gather your thoughts while saying the w-word then deliver the results.

I agree it can be said so quickly you hardly notice it sometimes, but it's there because your mind is used to putting it there while your conscious mind gets the data together and keep the flow of the conversation going.

I have stated to use 'so' now as well, why not? It's not a biggie. And the English you talk is quite different to your parents' or even more grandparents' English.

So language changes and evolves just like the humans who use and invent it. It's not a statue cast in iron for ever!

Rant over and it's still morning here 🫢😂
 
HaarlemShuffler said:
I do use 'well' and regularly hear it from English speakers (and older Dutch English speakers). Eg on the phone, someone asks you what you dud the day before. You gather your thoughts while saying the w-word then deliver the results.

I agree it can be said so quickly you hardly notice it sometimes, but it's there because your mind is used to putting it there while your conscious mind gets the data together and keep the flow of the conversation going.

I have stated to use 'so' now as well, why not? It's not a biggie. And the English you talk is quite different to your parents' or even more grandparents' English.

So language changes and evolves just like the humans who use and invent it. It's not a statue cast in iron for ever!

Rant over and it's still morning here 🫢😂
Click to expand...
Fair enough. I can't agree it's commonly used between friends etc, that's why it bugs me so much. I can categorically state I have never answered a question, either written or spoken with the word well. I also don't agree it's got anything to do (nowadays) with getting your mind together. It's purely habit for many and a habit that bugs me.
I did say in my op that others may not agree. Nearly 5pm here, early evening walk along the beach road soon 🙏
 
When I hear someone start a sentence with Look or Listen I assume it's because they are superior to me and they're going going to show or tell me something which I'm too stupid to see or know for myself.
 
Scottish fitbaw folk who prefix an answer with "To be honest" or media trained folk who start an answer with "Listen" do my heid in.
 
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