Ugh filler words are a pet peeve
By NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (125772)
United States
January 2, 2026 12:57pm CST
I don't think I ever noticed them until I took a Literature course in college back in the day. It was some kind of Honors combo literature/communications course. We would have to get up and speak in front of everyone. The 2 professors were very hard on students who used filler words like "um", "uh", "like", etc. It wasn't something that I had noticed before but I've never NOT noticed it since.
In my job I speak in front of people every day. Sure I know my content but I also am mindful to NOT use filler words. Its just something that marinated in my brain after that class. It just isn't something that I do. I can spit it out without having to fill in my sentences.
Why am I thinking about this? I'm 5.5 hours of watching Special Prosecutor Jack Smith's testimony before Congress. Being interested in politics of course I want to watch it all. Jim Jordan refused to allow him to testify publicly but somehow all 8 hours are now available online.
I've been working my way through it. I'm almost at hour 6. I've been doing just like 2 hours at a time. Part of the reason is because Smith uses so many filler words. It is difficult to listen to. I get that his job wasn't to continuously speak in public. Still it is rough to watch this.
https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2006456656817959328?s=20
6 people like this
6 responses
@RasmaSandra (92507)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Jan
I believe I have heard them referred to as long pauses while thoughts are gathered,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (81544)
• United States
2 Jan
One professor called them “verbal pauses” and they drove her batty, too.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51057)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Jan
Like, I mean, y'know, right?
A friend of mine is always tagging on "Right?" when informing me of something, to which I reply, 'No, I don't know."
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (368514)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jan
We have friends who use 'like' continually in their sentences. 'You know' and 'you know what I mean' are others that come up time and again. As you say, once you notice someone doing this, it really sticks in your head, like you're waiting to see how long before the next time they use it.
@LindaOHio (209900)
• United States
3 Jan
Yes, it annoys me when people say "like" with every other word and "um" and "ah". I learned not to do that by biting my tongue. I learned to pause rather than use a filler word.
