2298 Two Politeness Parentheticals : If I May Say So
and For What It’s Worth
8.1 Introduction
Two parentheticals (or comment clauses ) in Present- day English used to pref-
ace speaker opinion are if I may say so and for what it’s worth :
(1) a. If I may say so , that’s totally unrealistic. (1992 CBS_ FaceNation [COCA])
b. A ruse which, if I may say so , you took a couple of steps too far. (2008 GH
[SOAP])
c. And if I may say so , I think your daughter is a terrifi c kid. (2001 AMC
[SOAP])
d. And a snappier dresser, too, if I might say so , sir. (2005 DAYS [SOAP])
e. You know, for what it ’ s worth , you look amazing. (2009 AMC [SOAP])
f. Just – and for what it ’ s worth , I thought that he was coming down too hard
on you. (2002 AMC [SOAP])
g. For what it’s worth , Thomas Jefferson was not all that famous in his day.
(2001 Rolling Stone [COCA])
h. For what it’s worth , he does have a blueprint for his grand soccer plan (2005
Chicago Sun- Times [COCA])
Dictionaries point to the fact that for what it is worth marks the information in
the attached clause of uncertain value in the view of the speaker. For example,
the OED (s.v. worth , adj., def. 3c) notes that the use of for what it is worth is
“dismissive” and intimates that “something (esp. an accompanying statement)
is of uncertain or little value.” The Cambridge advanced learner’s diction-
ary (s.v. worth ) asserts that the phrase is “said when you are giving someone
a piece of information and you are not certain that information is useful or
important.” But English language and usage , in addition to pointing to the use
of the phrase “to present a comment, suggestion, or opinion without making a
claim as to its importance or validity,” notes that it can be a “a kind of self- dep-
recation.” It can also be “ [u]sed to soften the presentation of unsolicited advice
or information ” and is often “useful to emphasize humility by prompting the
reader to provide their judgment of worth against the statement being made”
( Wiktionary ).