Popular culture: the word Wow

Self-tutoring about English and popular culture: the tutor mentions “Wow.”

“Wow” is used a lot these days…more than I recall it was in the 80s, for instance. To me, there’s a likely reason.

“Wow” has become one of those words that can impart numerous different ideas. In my observation, it less often means simple surprise, anymore; rather more often, it seems to suggest disapproving surprise. There’s little wonder it would be popular today, when people typically avoid direct communication.

Back in the ’70s, “Wow” seemed a much more innocent word than now.