What’s on my mind? Grammar.
“How fun is this?” A smart, mature 50-year-old actually said that, the other day. I shouldn’t have been surprised. The word “much” seems to have fallen out of vogue: “It was so fun!” Another blow to lingua franca; another win for gibberish. Pity.
It’s one thing to say: “I love you so …” and quite another to end it with “much.” The first suggests pathos and longing; the second, volume.
“I love you so … (sniff! sniff!)
“I love you so much!” Wow!
Speaking of love, the most personal word I know has gone walkabout.
“I” has dropped out of favor, demoting romance to “Love y-o-o-o-u!” No matter how sincere the thought, “I” makes it more so.
Even “Hi!” and “Hello!” are vanishing.
People now sidle up to one another, COVID-wary, a little unsure.
“Hey!” says one. “Hey!” grunts the other.
For now, that’s all I have to say. I have so work to do.
© Nicole Parton, 2020
