Dan Brecher
Counsel
212-286-0747 dbrecher@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Verbal Fillers: Are You Guilty of Um, Ah and Sort Of?
Author: Dan Brecher
Date: August 19, 2013
Key Contacts
Back
Do you have a verbal “tic?” Get a tape of your last public speech, talk, oral argument or sales presentation. Are you starting your sentences with an “uh” or its common replacement “so?”
If these verbal fillers seem to find their way into your public speaking, you are not alone. Many of the talking heads featured on news programs, such as at CNN, MSNBC, FOX and Bloomberg, still populate too many sentences with words like “uh” and “um.”
The latest verbal fillers that seem to be popular are “so” and “sort of,” which initially seemed better than “uh” but still detract from the speaker’s message. “So” will inappropriately start some sentences, and “sort of” will appear mid-sentence where it imparts nothing and doesn’t belong. Don’t get me started on teenagers and “like.”
Even President Barak Obama is not immune. When he is thinking carefully while speaking impromptu, he relies on both “uh” and “ah” frequently.
Of course, people who live in “sort of” glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. If you have detected verbal fillers from your own oral presentations, removing them is often no easy task. Below are a few tips:
Pay attention: Self-awareness is a first step. Record your oral presentations to determine what verbal crutches you tend to use and under what circumstances.
Slow down: Fillers tend to crop up when our mouths have trouble keeping up with our brains. Slowing down and speaking more deliberately can help eliminate the need to use “uhs” and ahs.”
Learn to embrace silence: Not all silence is bad. It is ok to pause and gather your thoughts without inserting a verbal placeholder. In fact, a small break may actually allow the audience to more fully consider what you have said.
Practice: Think about what you are going to say before you speak. The more confidence you have in what you are saying, the less likely you will be to use verbal fillers as a crutch.
If you have any questions about this post or would like to discuss the issues involved, please contact me, Dan Brecher, or the Scarinci Hollenbeck attorney with whom you work.
- Practices: Corporate Transactions & Business
- Locations: Red Bank, NJ, New York City, Little Falls, NJ
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Related Posts
See all
How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025
Ongoing economic uncertainty is forcing many companies to make tough decisions, which includes lowering staff levels. The legal landscape on both the state and federal level also continues to evolve, especially with significant changes to the priorities of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) under the Trump Administration. Terminating an employee is one of the […]
Author: Angela A. Turiano
Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know
While filing annual reports may seem like a nuisance, failing to do so can have significant ramifications. These include fines, reputational harm, and interruption of your business operations. In basic terms, “admin dissolution for annual report” means that a company is dissolved by the government. This happens because it failed to submit its annual report […]
Author: Dan Brecher
What Is Antitrust Litigation Law?
Antitrust laws are designed to ensure that businesses compete fairly. There are three federal antitrust laws that businesses must navigate. These include the Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act. States also have their own antitrust regimes. These may vary from federal regulations. Understanding antitrust litigation helps businesses navigate these complex […]
Author: Robert E. Levy
Dissolving Your Business: Essential Legal Steps to Protect Your Interests
If you’re considering closing your business, it’s crucial to understand that simply shutting your doors does not end your legal obligations. Unless you formally dissolve your business, it continues to exist in the eyes of the law—leaving you exposed to ongoing liabilities such as taxes, compliance violations, and potential lawsuits. Dissolving a business can seem […]
Author: Christopher D. Warren
The Role of Corporate Restructuring in Mergers & Acquisitions
Contrary to what many people think, corporate restructuring isn’t all doom and gloom. Revamping a company’s organizational structure, corporate hierarchy, or operations procedures can help keep your business competitive. This is particularly true during challenging times. Corporate restructuring plays a critical role in modern business strategy. It helps companies adapt quickly to market changes. Following […]
Author: Dan Brecher
Crypto Enforcement: A Former Prosecutor’s Warning to Criminals and the Public
Cryptocurrency intimidates most people. The reason is straightforward. People fear what they do not understand. When confusion sets in, the common reaction is either to ignore the subject entirely or to mistrust it. For years, that is exactly how most of the public and even many in law enforcement treated cryptocurrency. However, such apprehension changed […]
Author: Bryce S. Robins
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.