The hanging 'so'
I've noticed this of people Mrs SLVA knows that she bumps into in shops (whilst I kick my feet, act bored and whine 'can we go now?').

Someone: "And such and such happened, and this was the situation, so...."

and leave it hanging. It's as if they get bored of what they were saying and then stick a 'so' on the end and expect the other person to fill in the conclusion themselves.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 17:14, 8 replies)

I noticed this appear some years back
it came out of nowhere and suddenly everyone was doing it.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 17:21, closed)

In some cases,
they may tack a "y'know" onto the end.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 17:27, closed)

Ha ha ha,
This was going to be one of mine, but with added "Um" afterwards.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 17:26, closed)

so
it indicates to me that the person is lacking a punchline for their statement, or gets part way through and realises it's not particularly interesting after all. So...
(Smale is stuffed, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 17:34, closed)

I remember my mother and her cronies doing that when I was a little kid , over 40 years ago,
when they were chatting in the street on way home from the shops.

I'd be standing beside Mother, growing more and more bored and fed up.

I used to think, why are you wasting time talking about nothing? You're not even finishing your sentences properly!
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 18:07, closed)

I think it's probably an invitation for the interlocutor to speak.
I don't mind it so much. I even do it sometimes. What annoys me is when people use the hanging 'so' to give instructions.

"Hey Scott, the washing up needs doing, so..."

Afford me the decency of refusing an actual request.
( Pretender, Tue 13 Apr 2010, 19:02, closed)

Fuck, I hate this.
My brother says it all the time. It just makes me want to wrench out his teeth and skin his entire head with them (fraternal ties aside).
( .Yeti., Tue 13 Apr 2010, 22:15, closed)

I do this
when, midway through a sentance, I realise I've entirely forgotten what it was I meant to say at the outset.

The "so" acts either as a pause for thought or a hopeful opportunity for interjection.

I realise it makes me sound like an idiot, but somethings are simply inevitable.
( Moey, Wed 14 Apr 2010, 11:57, closed)