Awww, Mama, can this really be the end?

[jcspd]

Larry Scanlon has me absolutely obsessed with saying "as it were," as it were. I love it because he says it at least 10 times per period and it means absolutely nothing. It's not substantially different than "um" or "like," only it's "as it were," so it's scholarly and legitimate. And so much fun to say because it fits everywhere (and nowhere

Comments

help me english goddess;-)

[desultorymatter]

i'm glad you bring this up because i've never understood "as it were." i don't know where to look it up. and you're right that people use it everywhere, this is why i have never been able to pin down any concrete meaning. i don't know what the phrase technically means or how to contextually use it, therefore I don't say it...and i resent hearing others say it because i don't know if it's a proper application. what does "as it were" actually mean?

Re: help me english goddess;-)

[jcspd]

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.