So is a word that, apart from its other uses, has become increasing popular in recent years as a coordinating conjunctive opening word in a sentence. This device is particularly used when answering questions although the questioner may also use the device.
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Historical use
The first known written use of "so" as a sentence opener is in several lines of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde, published in the mid 1380s, for example:
So graunte hem sone out of this world to pace (So grant him soon out of this world to pass);
"So" as a sentence opener has been used in later historical literary works such as:
It is widely believed that the recent ascendancy of “so” as a sentence opener began in Silicon Valley. Michael Lewis, in his book The New New Thing, published in 1999, noted that “When a computer programmer answers a question, he often begins with the word ‘so.’ ” Microsoft employees have long argued that the “so” boom began with them.
Purpose
Various suggestions have been made as to its purpose: