Language Stuff

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I see people using the initials SO a lot as shorthand for 'significant other'. I just can't seem to get used to seeing it used in that context. The first thing that comes to mind whenever I see SO is 'superior officer' like in the military. Also, why the heck can't people just say husband, or wife, or fiance, or boyfriend or girlfriend? To me, calling them your significant other is like not wanting to fully admit your relationship with each other, like you're embarrassed or ashamed of it in some way; and that just doesn't sit right with me for some reason.

And on a somewhat similar note: anyone else out there rarely use names or titles when addressing people? I'm that way. About the only people I address by their names or titles regularly are my parents (addressed as Mom and Dad) and my brother by his nickname. I'll occasionally address close friends by their names, but not often. Usually I'll just look and act like I have something to say, and then start talking when I have their attention.

Also, I rarely let (or even want) people to use my nickname. Only my parents, my brother and one very close friend use it regularly and those are the only people I'm OK with using it, pretty much. All my other friends, co-workers, and classmates all refer to my by my full first name. Interestingly enough, my brother prefers to be known only by his nickname.

I understand your frustration. Every time I see DH, I think "designated hitter," not dear husband/hubby. Seriously why are people that lazy? It doesn't take long to just type out husband, or God forbid "hubby."

I am inordinately bothered by it when people use "DH" to refer to their husband, "DS" to refer to their son, etc. The unthinking (and therefore insincere) affixing of "dear" in front" seems sort of condescending to me, and the generic-ness of it seems impersonal to the point of being dismissive. And it's awfully lazy - why can't you just say "my husband" or "my son"? The extra fraction of a second just takes too much time, the extra few letters burn one too many calories?

I personally like SO for significant other because it allows me not to state my sexual orientation. Partner sounds to weak for me (since it also appears in business partner, etc) and, well, I like the word "significant".

I don't remember ever seeing SO (or anything else) used as an abbreviation for superior officer. Are you thinking of CO or OC, which don't quite mean the same thing?

I'm with people on the D-whatevers. They sound fake.

I know what I'm talking about; CO, in the military, is commanding officer, and OC, in a literary and/or media context is either original content or original character. I've heard SO used in context of rank, like in the military, for example.

I agree with the D- whatever stuff, too; it sounds so fake. Also, After reading Richard K. Morgan's books, DH to me automatically means digitized human.

OC, officer commanding.

Yeah, but in conventional English, we put the adjective before the noun, not the other way around, unless there's a preposition separating the two. Commanding officer/officer in command; same thing.

I hate it when people say "partner" especially if they are actually married.
It is another word that has been hijacked like "gay"

Imagine a businessman, lawyer, or policeman having to say "I am Jim Smith and this is my partner Bruce Jones"

I guess the same thing would apply to ballroom dancers, bridge partners and on other occasions.