5 Ways to Eliminate Filler Words 

another helpful tip is to not be afraid of silence. not a dramatic pause, but give ppl a few seconds to think about what you said while you think about what to say next. 😉 thx cat and keep up the great work! 👊

Yes, I plead guilty to using filler words. Your tip on closing your mouth between sentences is what I need to begin my journey to reducing this most annoying habit. Thank you for doing this video and for the tip, Cat.

This will definitely help me with my Sales calls! Thanks!

Hello Cat, this is an great subject to talk about. Thanks for bringing this up.

This is great advice. I like your reminder suggestion to help reduce filler words when unexpectedly having to say a quick elevator pitch.

thank you for mentioned this!

SO helpful, Cat - thanks!

Powerful share, Cat! It's true that filler words can negatively impact credibility. I've learned that preparation is important and can combat the use of such words in a conversation or an interview. Having the confidence to know when to speak and when not to is just as important. Keep up the great work!❣

Thank you so much! This is very helpful.

Well done. Its good to see, (and hear), you bring your extensive knowledge to the table.

Thank you Cat. This was really helpful. Appreciate all your efforts.

These tips are so great ❤

Thank you Cat! Been focusing on this a lot lately, will use these tips!

Good info❤❤

I recently started livestreaming and watching back at my recordings has been really educational - evidence that I need this advice! Absolute gold. Thank you!

great video. love your hair!

Thank you Cat. Like the idea with the reminder to become as clear as possible aware of my filler words👍

Awesome video Cat! 🎉

I would guess I have about a 9th grade education, so naturally my grammar and communication skills are really subpar IMO. The record idea is excellent! Besides practicing I thought I would actually record conversations with my uncles that I hang out in my garage with.

Awesome strategies. For those that have Microsoft Word, it has a dictation feature as well. It’s how I make scripts for videos in my speaking style.

Am dealing with this problem too, thank you, Cat for some approaches and techniques to apply will get to work on it

Great tips. Thank you (like, totally 😉)

That reminder tip is genius!

This is good thank you, i rarely use filler words, however i have several friends who use filler words way too much and i am not sure how to talk to them about it. Thank you again.

There is an English classroom buzzer game adapted from the BBC radio and TV show _Just a Minute!_ which helps identify and reduce the use of filler words in a fun way. Students pick up topic cards and must speak about the subject in one minute without using filler words, repetitions, hesitations, or drifting off the topic, to win points. Other students have buzzers and win points when pressing the buzzer identifying the filler words of the student speaking. The first thing is, most people are not conscious of their use of filler words. Also, many come to the realization they cannot communicate without fillers, and modify the game conditions to include _a maximum number of_ fillers allowed before losing a point. Pretty interesting stuff. It's a good thing to propose alternatives and practice them: instead of saying the word "like" for comparing, why not use the following words or expressions : _as such_ or _that ressembles,_ etc.). Many filler words are used through habit, and breaking a habit takes time and practice.

This like many of your videos, was very helpful. Thank you

Cat, I watched your video on using the cameo functions in PowerPoint; and, because of your succinct and comfortable speaking style, I found myself watching two more of your videos simply for enjoyment's sake. And, guess what? The content of these two videos divulged some of the secrets behind your most agreeable speaking style. I so appreciated how you introduced some of the technical aspects of vocalization while remaining focused on the practicalities of effective communication. Were you to consider narrating a novel, I would be first in line to download that audiobook. Thank you. You inspired me!

Great stuff Cat! I think you're the #1 on these topics. Since I follow you on YT I've spent a lot on money ... I've a question about your setup (not related to this video). I remember that you're using a Sony 7R as webcam, right? Do you use the battery charger or you've find a way to have a direct power connection? Thanks for reply. Have a nice day.

You are brilliant and beautiful appreciate the tips.

I have been watching your videos for a couple of weeks now. Thank you for all the tips! I have a mini-session tonight (with friends basically) and I think I'm gonna ask the audience to become "the partner" to reduce my filler words.

When writing or typing ive never used filler words...but when it comes to speech i didnt realise my habit till my cousin pointed it out today

Awesome! At speaking training - if I recall right - it was claimed that filler words are used to ”keep the speaking status”, i.e. to convey to others we still have something to say. So odd we’d use them when making a recording all on our own.

Hey Cat. Very much resonate. I use the app poised on my mac to get immediate feedback on filler words in meetings. might be a good extra tip. Btw, what app do you use to generate the overlays in this video? Thanks!

So, Cat, great video and tips! My filler word as you might expect, is “so.” OMG! I used that word to fill blank air on a radio interview a few years ago and when I listened to the recording I was shocked how often I said that blasted word. Thanks again for the help!

GREAT video, Cat. Thank you. I wish there was a pill to make filler words go away, but that wasn't one of your tools. 😁

First of all thank you for this. If you watch this back and pay close attention to where your eyes are pointing do you notice this too?: You keep glancing to the script (I assume) and this breaks the connection you have with the viewer. it felt just like when a filler-word is used, just on a more visual level if that makes sense. (Somewhat ironically I'm noticing, given the topic of this video, now that I'm writing this).

Really valuable tips. I wonder if you cover vocal exercises. 😄

subscribed. Great content! My filler word I'm trying to break is "so"

I was hoping this would be a topic of yours for a while. The first thing I noticed about your videos was the lack of filler words, because they're so pervasive on other channels. Ive been trying to get better myself by closing my mouth between thoughts, which eliminates the words as well as lets my brain focus on what I'm saying next without multitasking. One of my coworkers has a filler 'gasp'....they talk until they run out of air and have to take a breath to continue. It's crazy how such a small thing can affect how others see you while presenting though. And it's super hard to break the habit without thinking about it. Would you say you still think about it? Or does it ever become 'natural'? I'm still conscious of it with every sentence, and hoping that goes away at some point.

I used to use filler sounds and sometimes wkords and phrases out of place rather than simply pausing or taking a longer breath. My problem now, is that i have overcome this and see so few people attempting to change this behaviour in themselves... If they recognise it at all.

Filler words are annoying and a real pain if they are used intensively by a speaker. So far, thanks for your helpful coaching regarding this topic. You provide real, timeless value which is nicely illustrated by the clock behind, pausing for a while out of respect for you ;-)

I moved to California from Texas recently-I have noticed and so has anyone I speak to from Texas that I say like so much as an interjection now-so much so that I’ve had to watch multiple videos on how to stop 😭😭

thanks beautiful

Good tips Cat! I always try to reduce filler words in my classes but if I'm not fully concentrated some always get out of my mouth :-P Talking slowly (which is something hard for we spaniards, believe me) an think the next sentence is the key for me. BTW: Your camera always look a bit soft, like if it was simply HD, not FullHD nor even 4K at all. I guess the camera (I remember you said it's a Sony) maybe can't do better but as you seem so picky about all the details of your videos, I thought this is somewhat intentional. Isn't it?

you are so beautiful 😭🫶🏼 thanks for the tips 🎉

Thanks Cat. The "Toastmaster" in me is smiling...!

I listen to podcasts where people use the word ‘like’ regularly 5 times or more in one sentence. The worst part is noticing it

There are also irritating filler phrases such as "at this moment of time" rather than "now". One of the worst is a speaker asking "Does that make sense?" every few minutes, because if it doesn't, they shouldn't have said it.

Using filler words might not seem disturbing to others as much as to the one who is using heheh

Those who end every sentence making it sound like a "question" when they speak.

You need to replace your clock battery 😀

You’re so beautiful 😻

My speaking is terrible

Why is it that media people, people whos job it is to speak, are so often incapable of starting and finishing whole sentences? Also, how come these people get to keep such high paid speaking jobs when they can't and don't train themselves to stop using filler words and sounds? So many news presenters sound like children learning to read.

great orators are ok with long pause but they dont use filler words.

Write down your script. Read from it. You'll be fine. Then offer it as a transcript - many of us can still read.

People sound like idiots when they keep using those stupid words. If it's someone on TV, then I change the channel. If someone does it with me, then I'll tell him to stop it.