"Honestly"
How often do you find yourself using the word "honestly" in conversation? I've noticed myself using it more often lately, and now I'm beginning to pick it out more in conversations that I've had, and ones that I've just overheard.
It seems innocent enough. In most cases it seems to be used as a form of apology as in "Honestly, I don't know where it is." or to put emphasis on a something. The more I think about its use, the more bothersome it seems that it's being used in such a way. To have to preface a statement with "honestly" sets off an alarm that says "Wait.. you weren't being honest about the rest of that? .. or you're being MORE honest about this somehow?"
I know that this isn't the normal reaction people have when something is "honestly" said to them, but I've been trying to focus a lot on the thoughts that are going on behind the scenes, the subconscious stuff that I can actually dig at, and that was one reaction I found that caught me off guard. I wonder if other people internally react to it the same way, and maybe don't realize it?
Anyway, I was just thinking how great and how much better off things would be if people didn't have to feel the need to stress that the next thing that they're about to say is true. Anyone else?
spudart said,
Honestly, I think i say that a lot. (sorry, i couldn't resist saying it there)
August 1, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
spudart said,
using honestly is more of an indication for someone to listen up. It's like when someone says any of the following:
consequently
hence
in fact
therefore
thus
in short
it follows that
shows that
indicates that
suggests that
it should be clear that
we may deduce that
points to the conclusion that
the point I'm trying to make is
the most obvious explanation
it is highly probable that
proves that
the truth of the matter is
it's an indicator that someone is stating a conclusion. And honestly is a sort of indicator phrase, "i speak to you from complete honesty and truth."
November 27, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
spudart said,
oh snap. i was gonna include this in the last comment. That list of words came from: "Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking"
November 27, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
spudart said,
in short, uh. Oh crap i forgot my point.
June 15, 2010 @ 1:00 pm