# Gonna

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gonna/422255>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 10, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gonna/422255 "2007-10-10T19:48:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gonna/422255/21 "2007-10-12T13:36:43Z")

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I say it all the time in casual speech. However, I think it has no place in formal speech. When I’ve heard reporters say it (and I have, more and more frequently), I think it represents a very slack attitude and sounds very unprofessional. I haven’t seen it written in a formal news story, but I suspect I’ll have an apoplectic fit when that day comes.

When I hear leaders, politicians, and other supposedly-important people use it in public speeches, I feel very discouraged.

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**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gonna/422255/22 "2007-10-12T14:15:10Z")

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I dislike ‘gonna’ and rarely use it. When I do, it’s for a specific emphasis.

I do use “I’d’ve” though…has anyone else?

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gonna/422255/23 "2007-10-12T14:17:02Z")

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Imma think bout it.

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**Author:** ![DustyButt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc348/32.png) [@DustyButt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DustyButt)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gonna/422255/24 "2007-10-12T14:43:15Z")

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I thought the OP was being nitpicky…

Then I realized that when I hear someone say “fixin’” or worse “fittin’” I wanna do a back-flip out of a window.

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**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gonna/422255/25 "2007-10-12T15:44:05Z")

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[QUOTE=Pocito]  
We were all pretty surprised that the opening began with a voice over of, “This is where I _wanna_ learn.” They even inflected the “wanna.” Yikes! I know it’s kind of a common way of speaking in the area, but for the promotional campaign of higher education?  
[/QUOTE]

You know, I spent a happy couple of moments contemplating the inflected forms of “wanna” (“I **wanna** learn”, “she **wanza** learn”, “he **wanneda** learn”…) before I realised you meant inflected as in stressed or emphasized. :smack: 😃

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