Date:  Fri, 1 Dec 1995 09:22:38 -0500

From:  Jesse T Sheidlower <jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PANIX.COM>

Subject: Re: So fun



I think the important article on the adjectival use of _fun_

is still John Algeo "A Fun Thing" _American Speech_ 37 (1962)

158-9.



As for "so fun," the earliest example of adjectival "fun"

in the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang,

from 1862 [sic], is for this form:



 This was "never so fun...except when he was drunk."



We comment in a note that "The 1862 quot. is remarkably early and

may simply reflect a slip of the pen or a typographical error

for _funny_"; nonetheless, there's your early example of the form.



I, personally, find "so fun" completely natural, but them I'm

just a kid.



Best,



Jesse Sheidlower

Random House Reference

<jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com>