Steve, Herb, et al.,
There are two distinct uses of "so" as a conjunction. As a coordinating conjuction the best synonym is "therefore," i.e., it is illative. This latter conjunction is often the first word in a sentence when it is used to connect it to the preceeding context, and so writers are disposed to insert a comma to express a pause that may come after it. I think this habit is from the regular use of a comma with the longer "therefore." Quite often the coordinating conjunction "and," i.e., the conjunctive correlate, is used with "so" to emphasize this coordinating function.
The second use of "so" as a conjunction is as a connective to a dependent clause of purpose or result. In this meaning it is almost invariably followed by the subordinator "that" used generally to introduce a content clause. This "so" cannot be preceeded by "and" and is hardly ever followed by a pause or comma. The function of this "so" is that of a conjunctive adverb:
John ran so that he might win the race.
He spoke clearly so that he might be understood.
The key is that the clause is dependent. The clause of result is also used to complement the use of the adverb "so" as an adverb of degree or extent, in which case the clause is regularly postposed to the end of the sentence:
John is so tall (that) he can reach the top.
Our team ran so quickly (that) they came in before the rest.
I hope this has helped.
Bruce
--- [log in to unmask] wrote:
From: "Stahlke, Herbert" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: So
Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 02:46:51 +0000
Steve,
I'm not a writing teacher or an editor, and so my take on this might be skewed a bit by my linguistics. However, it's important to bear in mind that function and form are distinct. Your terms "conjunctive adverb" and "coordinating conjunction" are frequently taken to name lists of words, and a lot of people seem to think that those lists can't overlap. In fact, they are functions that words can carry out, and the same word can carry out more than one function. So "claim" can be a noun or a verb. Whether an editor, teacher, or writer wants to allow "so" as a conjunctive adverb and put a comma after it depends very much on audience, genre, level of formality (register), and personal taste. My sense is that "so" can be a conjunctive adverb in less formal writing but not so well in the most formal registers. But that's a personal judgment.
Herb
Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
[log in to unmask]
________________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Benton, Steve [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 2:57 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: So
If the word "so" appears by itself as the beginning of a sentence,
should it be followed by a comma? It seems to me that the answer
depends on whether or not "so" can be classified as a "conjunctive
adverb" similar to "consequently" in addition to being classified as a
coordinating conjunction.
A follow-up question: what counts as an authoritative answer to this
question? Is there a reference book that readers of the listserv trust
more than others when considering questions of this sort?
Steve Benton
East Central University
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