Discourse markers … well …
Well is a very common word in English that can be used as an adverb, adjective, verb, or noun. For example:
She swims well. (adverb modifying verb)
This app is well designed. (adverb modifying adjective)
Now that my fever is gone, I feel quite well. (adjective)
Tears welled in her eyes. (verb)
He gets his water from a well. (noun)
But well is also commonly used as a discourse marker. Remember, discourse markers are little, barely noticeable words or phrases used in spoken English. We don’t use them the same way in written English unless we are trying to transcribe someone’s speech patterns.
Like so, well can introduce a new topic. In fact, I find in my own speech, I’m more likely to use well than so. For example:
Lecturer: Well, today I’d like to talk about phrasal verbs.
It can also connect two thoughts together, without the causality implied by so. For example:
Speaker: I took a shower and, well, then I went to bed.
It can also be used with a question, or even as a one-word question:
Speaker: Well, how did your doctor visit go?
Speaker: Well? (often with a rising intonation, and sometimes a bit impatiently)
But Anne Curzan, a linguistics professor at the University of Michigan, points out another interesting use of well. It is also used to preface responses that we think our listener may not want to hear. Well might be used when we contradict what the speaker has just said, or when we’re basically saying “No.” Well seems to help soften the negative impact of our response. Often, when we use well this way, we stretch the word out a bit (weeelllll). It’s almost as if we’re giving the listener a moment to prepare emotionally for what we have to say. For example:
Speaker: Well, I’ve got kind of bad news. The doctor thinks I might have high blood pressure.
Speaker: Well, I’m not so sure you’re right about that. I kind of think that …
Speaker: Well, I understand what you mean but …
Speaker 1: Would you be able to host the next Alumni Club dinner?
Speaker 2: Well, I’d like to, but I don’t think we’re going to be in town that weekend.
Finally, we often use “oh well” together to signal understanding or resignation. In this case, the intonation of well often falls.
Speaker: Oh well, you can’t get an A on every test. You’ll do better next time.
Speaker: Oh well, I guess since it’s raining, we can just go to the movies. We can always go hiking next week.
