The phrase "I mean" is now everywhere in our conversations and social media interactions. But why?
It might not be surprising that encouraging people to reconsider the value of disliked speech patterns can stir some controversy. After all, we often hold strong beliefs about what is linguistically correct.
However, as someone who studies the history and evolution of speech habits, even I was taken aback by the number of people who get irritated by what appears to be a recent rise in the use of the phrase "I mean" to start sentences. It's almost as if it's the end of the world in language terms, given the strong reactions it provokes.
What is "I Mean"?
"I mean" belongs to a larger category of words and phrases in English known as discourse markers. Discourse markers are words or short phrases that don’t directly contribute to the literal meaning of a sentence but instead provide contextual or attitudinal information. In simpler terms, you could remove them without drastically altering the sentence's literal meaning.
For instance, I could say, "I got a new job," or I could say, "Oh, I got a new job," and both sentences convey the same literal meaning that the speaker is now employed somewhere. However, the word "Oh" signals new information, prompting the listener to shift their focus or attention to something the speaker has just recalled.
Discourse markers serve various conversational purposes, but all play a socially significant role, particularly in spoken dialogue. This often involves conveying information about how speaking turns relate to one another (now, so, then), indicating a speaker’s stance or attitude (well, I mean, oh), or inviting listener inference (you know).
For example, saying "well" at the beginning of a speaking turn generally signals that what’s about to follow is contrary to what might be a preferred response to something previously said. So, when your boss asks if your weekly sales report is ready, you might start with, "Well, I had to wait for John in accounting to get me the numbers" before admitting the report isn’t quite finished. In short, it signals that the speaker is about to say something they recognize as somewhat unwelcome in the conversational context, followed by some explanatory information.
So, I Mean…
The discourse marker "I mean" functions similarly, in that it tends to be used to correct or further explain a previous statement (e.g., "I mean, it’s not that I dislike eggplant, it’s just not my favorite"). In this way, using "I mean" can serve as a repair or a linguistic politeness strategy aimed at keeping the relationship between conversationalists smooth. This is the most common and widely accepted way to use the phrase.
The recent increase in usage that irritates some people seems to be connected to the use of "I mean" not to clarify, but rather to signal that a speaker is intensifying or reinforcing something, marking a point as obvious, or asserting a position or attitude. This kind of "I mean" occurs, for example, when, following your expression of surprise, a friend justifies driving an extra 15 miles out of the way to a specific coffee shop because, "I mean, they just serve the amazing coffee."
This usage is also where "I mean" can sometimes take on a more dismissive tone, as in "I mean, like, they really know a lot about parenting." This kind of "I mean" also invites some buy-in or agreement from listeners, as eliciting solidarity around a particular belief or position is implied.
This attitude-expressing "I mean" has been dubbed by some as "sassy I mean," but it can be used in either a sassy sarcastic or sassy enthusiastic way, i.e., "I mean, it is your birthday!" This playfulness is most evident when "I mean" is left hanging, like when someone asks if you want a chocolate brownie, and you simply respond, "I mean…" to indicate, duh, obviously, yes.
Crucially, much of what is required for its proper interpretation is something previously mentioned in the conversation or some shared understanding, like that they said or did something making their parenting skills relevant or that you always love dessert. If we’ve never met, I can’t just walk up to you and say, "I mean…" and expect you to understand what I’m getting at.
How "I Mean" Became So Popular
Are we right about "I mean" now seemingly being everywhere? While it doesn’t distinguish between "I mean" used as a main subject and verb versus a discourse marker, Google N-gram shows a significant increase in the use of the phrase "I mean" since the early 2000s when comparing its written occurrences over the past few centuries. This certainly suggests that something new is happening.
This increase, even appearing in writing, is likely the result of two factors: first, a shift in the sense of "I mean" to include this newer attitudinal one and, second, the new-to-this-century growth of social media where catchy expressions spread rapidly if they capture some social mindset. "I mean," especially in its snarkier form, was tailor-made for the kind of short, punchy tweets and comments that build on a post or news bite and invite others to jump on the attitude or sass train.
Specifically, with our recent hybrid style of online communication more like conversation but via writing we need ways to signal how we want others to interpret what we say. "I mean" before a comment helps ensure readers understand the tone, whether it was meant to convey sarcasm, exasperation, or a shared viewpoint. This also clarifies why some posts just say, "I mean, I mean, I MEAN!"
So, whether or not you’re a fan, chances are this discourse marker has already become part of your daily life and, while it may feel overused, it is definitely useful. In other words, why not just embrace it?