Sometimes you need a perfect set of words to connect your thoughts together. In some cases, you may need the right phrase just to keep a story going. If this sounds like a situation that you have encountered often, the phrase “and so” will certainly come in handy. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase “and so” is not so much an expression but rather an adverb phrase. It means that something comes soon after or occurs subsequently. In most cases, the phrase is used as a way to connect sentences, or as a way to further a plot in an ongoing verbal story. The phrase can also be used to explain a beginning, such as “and so it starts”.
It can also be used as a way to explain a sequence of events that have passed. It can also be used to explain how you would like things to go in the future. For example, saying “and so we will finish eating and then go home for dessert”. The connector phrase is used to explain what you are doing, and the next steps without creating an all new sentence.
Example Usage
“The professor lectured about his topic of choice, and so we were bound to listen as he was our guest”.
“The players were not doing well on the field, and so the coach decided to swap them out for the second lineup”.
“The way that he serenaded her was so quaint, and so it enthralled her, even more, thanks to the charm”.
“When counting in a sequence, you should start with the lowest number, go to the next, and so on until you reach your goal”.
Origin
The word “so” is an Old English word that means in this way. Its roots are Proto-Germanic which can also be traced to High German, Old Norse, Danish, and several other root languages. As language evolved, other words were added to strengthen the meaning of “so” such as; and so, so as to, also, so very, and a myriad of other combinations.
In the 1590s, so became an introductory particle in addition to being a slang term for a homosexual when used on its own. In 1886, it was also used as a form of dismissal, and in 1934, so what was created as a phrase of indifference. And so, and so on, and so far so good are all phrases that first started showing up in print in the early 1720s. There is no one person or language credited with the phrase “and so”, however, it has been used all over the world in various ways for hundreds of years.
Phrases Similar to And So
- And then
- Then
- So
- Next we have
- After which
- Furthermore
Phrases Opposite to And So
- It is
- The end
- Period
What is the Correct Saying?
- The proper way to say the phrase is – and so.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say And So
The phrase is very difficult to misuse, however, the most common mistake is the connector being used in place of “also”. For example, if someone says “I and so want to go to the store” instead of “I also want to go to the store”, its usage would be incorrect.
Ways People May Correctly Say And So
Some ways that And So is used correctly are:
- The die has been cast, and so has this round of bets.
- I really like watching plays and musicals, and so I have decided that I will buy an annual pass to the opera.
- Robert wasn’t listening to what I had to say, and so when I just decided to do whatever I wanted, he was surprised.
- And so from this point on the school will be known as a place for the underprivileged and low-caste to follow their dreams.