Understanding and Eliminating Filler Words

 How to Eliminate Unnecessary, Useless, "Filler" Words

Filler words tend to be a part of public speaking that can become a problem if they get out of hand. Using too many filler words will take away from your presentation so you need to be careful. The best way to make sure filler words do not interfere with your public speaking ability is by understanding what they are so you can eliminate them from your speech. Filler words are those annoying little words that you tend to put in-between your sentences.

They are the words used throughout your speech to fill up space while you are putting your thoughts together in your mind. Filler words are the works like er, um, ah that don’t belong in your sentences but they pop out of your mouth automatically without thought. They are normally used the most often during the beginning of a presentation when the speaker is still a little nervous and adjusting to the audience. There are three main ways these words are used in sentences and you need to know how you use them in order to eliminate them.

The Three Ways to Use Filler Words

The three ways to use filler words are referred to as intra-sentence, inter-sentence and transitional fillers. The intra-sentence filler words are used in the middle of sentences like a form of punctuation. This use of filler words will break up your sentences and they can come across as if you don’t know what you are trying to say. The inter-sentence fillers are when you use these words in-between each sentence or between the particular thoughts that you are trying to make.

The transitional fillers are used when you have just finished one major point and you are trying to move on to another one. It’s very common when you are reading from a list or when your presentation includes a type of slide show. Filler words are often used when switching from one slide to another during that few seconds that lapse while you are changing pictures.

Any use of filler words can be distracting and bore your audience to the point that they don’t pay much attention to your presentation. They can make you lose the attention of the audience and that’s the last thing that you want to do. That’s why it’s important to eliminate most all filler words from your public speaking. This will make you seem more polished and professional.

How to Eliminate Filler Words from Your Presentation

Now that you know what filler words are and how they are used, it’s time to learn how to eliminate them from your presentation. The first step would be to learn how you use filler words. This can be done by recording or videotaping yourself as you speak. This will give you the opportunity to listen to your speech at a later date so you can pinpoint the filler words you use and discover when they were used the most.

After determining which way you use filler words you need to practice your speech. The more you practice the easier it will be to talk without using filler words because you will be more comfortable and relaxed. It’s especially important to practice the first ten to fifteen minutes of your speech because this is when the majority of people are the most nervous. While practicing your presentation, pay close attention to your words as you speak.

When you start to say a filler word stop and pause for a few seconds. You can take in a deep breath and then move on to the next phrase or sentence. This technique works best for the people who use the intra-sentence or the inter-sentence filler words. At first your words may seem broken up but after you practice for awhile they will smooth out and you will have trained yourself to speak without using filler words.

If you use the transitional filler words it can be beneficial to use a visual aid to help you eliminate these words in-between major points. Many speakers will use the basic stop sign as a cue. You can place a sticker on your notes, slide deck or anywhere that you will see it to remind you not to use filler words between each major point that you are trying to get across. When you catch yourself starting to use the filler word, pause and take a deep breath instead.

By using these techniques you are basically training your mind to speak without the use of filler words. You are forming a rhythm with your words which many professionals call “the music of speech”. Practice is the key to eliminating filler words from your presentation and achieving a rhythm when you speak. This is because practicing is how you recondition your brain to leave these words out of your speech. Keep in mind that there will be times when you will still use filler words and using them once in awhile is fine. You simply don’t want to overuse them to the point that the audience becomes annoyed.

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