In everyday speech, people get accustomed to using filler words without even realizing it. But imagine you were in the middle of a formal report presentation and your speech was full of filler words such as ‘em’, ‘ha’, and ‘well’, wouldn't that be unpleasant? Therefore, it's important to take action to overcome this oral habit now.
This article provides detailed strategies on avoiding filler words from speech. Before proceeding with the methods, understand what fillers are and which ones are most frequently used. By the end, you will be able to find a solution for eliminating them from your audio/videos.
In this article
Part 1. What Are Filler Words
Filler words are the 'uhh's, 'ahh's, and 'you know's you use subconsciously when speaking, to fill the silence, when you're unsure of what to say next, or simply out of habit. They are those annoying little words, sounds, or phrases that clutter your conversations and speeches.
Although filler words are expected, especially in conversations, they can negatively impact how your listener receives your message. Here are a few adverse effects of filler words:
- Interrupts communication flow: Frequent use of filler words like “uhm” and “ahh,” along with awkward pauses, disrupts your speech and makes it hard for listeners to follow your ideas, weakening your message.
- Reduces audience engagement: Overuse of filler words makes your speech monotonous and can cause listeners to lose interest. Avoiding these crutches makes your speech more engaging and keeps your audience’s attention.
- Portrays lack of authority and unprofessionalism: Frequent stumbling and filler words can make you seem unprepared or lacking confidence, which may lead your audience to doubt your expertise.
Common filler words include:
| Filler words | Usage examples |
| Uhh | “I’m not so sure.” |
| Uhm | “Uhm, I think you should leave.” |
| Like | “I didn’t like mean it that way.” |
| Well | “Well, he’s right.” |
| You know | “It’s not that way, you know.” |
| Actually | “He actually meant what he said.” |
| Basically | “That’s just it, basically.” |
Part 2. Identify the Filler Words You Commonly Use
Have you ever pondered on how to eliminate filler words from your speech? The first step to achieving this is identifying filler words that slip into your conversations.
Here are a few ways you can do that:
- By recording yourself: Record yourself during a presentation, in a meeting, or having a conversation. Go over the recording and note repetitive filler words or phrases. Pay attention to the patterns where they occur, such as pauses, transitions between thoughts, or when you’re thinking of how best to express yourself.
- Ask a friend: Ask that straightforward friend or family member for feedback. If they listen to you speak regularly, they should identify filler words or sounds that you may not be aware of.
- Self-observe: Consciously pay attention to yourself when you speak. The heightened awareness will help you identify common filler words in your speech you didn’t notice before.
Part 3.Tips to Avoid Filler Words in Speech
While fillers may be harmless sometimes, they distract your listeners and undermine your confidence and professionalism. To combat this, adapt these effective strategies on how to remove filler words from speech.
- Be well prepared
- Stay Relaxed
- Slow Down Your Pace
- Pause and Breathe
- Eye Contact and Gestures
- Practice More
- Replace Filler Words with Simple Words
- Tools for Removing Filler Words
The ultimate key to avoiding filler words during your speech is proper preparation. Thoroughly research your topic, understand the subject matter, organize your thoughts, write down your key points, and rehearse your speech in front of a mirror or a friend. This way, you will become familiar with the flow of your presentation,
When you’re prepared for your speech, you won’t have to think of what to say next or resort to filler words to buy time.
Staying relaxed gives you control over your speech, and control over your speech gives you control over your audience. Practice breathing exercises before (and during) your speech to calm anxiety. It’s okay to take pauses during your presentation if you feel nervous and need to take deep breaths, as long as the pauses are controlled.
Speaking too quickly might cause you to stumble on your words—and there, filler words slip in. Deliberately slow down your speech and allow yourself time to articulate your thoughts clearly. Slowing down is important when making key points, as it gives your listeners time to grasp the significance of your message.
Occasional pauses reduce the occurrence of filler words. Taking pauses strategically at the end of sentences or between points gives you time to collect your thoughts without any awkwardness. Take a deep breath during pauses to steady your voice and help you maintain a calm demeanor.
Also comfortably taking pauses during your speech without readily having the urge to fill the silence—with filler words—is a good sign.
Maintaining eye contact and using hand gestures can reduce your reliance on filler words. It increases your confidence, makes you mindful of your words, creates a connection with your audience and hooks the attention of your listeners. Making eye contact with your audience allows you to gauge their reactions and adjust your speech accordingly. Use hand gestures to express your ideas more clearly and keep your speech dynamic.
The phrase 'practice makes perfect' has never been more accurate. The more you practice, the more you master your topic and the more fluent your speech will be. Practicing will help you refine your speech delivery and timing. You can also record your practice sessions to identify filler words and be cautious when speaking quickly.
Instead of using filler words, opt for transitional phrases like “what I mean is”, or “moving on to.” If you need a moment to pause and think, simply say, “Let’s consider this.” These express your thoughts precisely while still holding your listener’s attention.
Sometimes, conscious effort and consistent practice are not enough; and they certainly don’t produce results overnight. You might find yourself subconsciously using filler words, even after you apply these methods. Then how to eliminate filler words in your recordings and videos in such cases? Editing tool will help.
One such tool is Capcut, an AI-powered tool for basic and professional video editing.
Here is how to remove filler words from speech using Capcut
Step 1: Open your Capcut editor. Click on Import to import the video you want to remove filler words.
Step 2: Drag and drop your video on the timeline to start editing.
Step 3: Click on Captions on the top left dashboard. Select Auto Captions, then select Identify Filler Words. Capcut will analyze your video, generate captions and detect filler words in your audio.
Step 4: Click on the 'Remove filler words' icon at the top left of the dashboard. Capcut will remove pauses and unnecessary sounds that do not add value to your audio.
Your video is ready!
Conclusion
Filler words commonly provide a temporary escape from awkward silences and unorganized thoughts. However, the repeated use of fillers negatively impacts the speaker. By following the tips in this article, you can learn how to get rid of filler words in speech permanently.
Alternatively, use editing tools to polish your audio or video presentations and finish them professionally. Filmora's soon-to-be-launched filler remover feature is a great option.
