How To Stop Using Filler Words -

To subscribe to my blog, click here!

This post is for everybody, whether you stutter or not. Do you have a habit of saying “um”, “like”, and “ah” too much? I sometimes say those words to avoid stuttering, and other times am simply having a brain fart and use them until the word I want to say pops in my head. And other times, I just say them out of habit! Well in the post, I’ll introduce some tips for cutting back on filler words and how to completely eliminate them from your vocabulary!

I’m no expert, but I have spent many years trying to improve my communication skills – which is made up of more than just fluency. Being a good communicator, in my opinion, means you are an effective listener, you take time to understand your audiences’ needs, you carefully think through what you want to say, you’re aware of the appropriate time and place to speak, and you can deliver your message in the most clear and precise way possible. And no, that doesn’t mean avoiding stuttering. That means saying exactly what you want to say without excess filler words that serve no purpose.

Filler words, or interjections, can cloud the message you’re trying to relay which is why it’s important so eliminate them from your vocabulary. It’s especially important to eliminate filler words if you’re a person who stutters and you use them as tricks! When you take out those interjections you’re left with raw speech, which allows you to expose your stutter and eventually desensitize to those ugly stuttering sounds. And if you don’t stutter, eliminating those interjections really transforms the way you talk. You instantly sound more mature and the listener has an easier time understanding what you’re saying.

So, how exactly to eliminate them? Start by monitoring! The more aware you are of a bad habit, the more you avoid doing that habit. I’ve done this in speech therapy many times and have also practiced job interview questions with this technique. Grab someone you’re comfortable with and practice giving 30 second monologues without using any interjections. Do this once a day, or once a week, and eventually try doing it with more people and in more situations. The more you do it, the better you become at breaking the habit! As for steps 2,3,4, and 5? Continue monitoring! That’s all it really requires. Doing anything else, in my opinion, is too complicated and unnecessary. Just keep monitoring and have someone gently remind you if you start using filler words again, and keep on talking!

Another important factor to note is that this isn’t an easy habit to break, especially if you’ve used interjections for years. So don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up. It’s okay! As long as you’re making a conscious effort on a daily or weekly basis, your vocabulary will gradually improve. Progress is never linear, people! It’s got all kinds of bumps and grooves. And any effort you make automatically brings you up from where you started.

I challenge all of my readers, whether you stutter or not, to try this out. Practice a few times a day for one week and see how you sound. Comment below if you’ve tried this or how you’re doing with reducing them! Thanks for reading 🙂