Pause instead of “um”: a filler words drill
“Um”, “uh” and “like” slip out while your head looks for the next word and silence feels scary. Here you learn to hold a pause instead: first on marked texts, then in your own speech.
He opened the envelope|and found a single word inside:|“Run.”
- 1A text with pause markers appears on the screen. Each one sits where silence creates meaning or tension.
- 2Round 1: read aloud and hold exactly 2 seconds at every marker. Count to yourself: “one-and, two-and”.
- 3Round 2: vary the length, from short (1 sec) to heavy (3 sec). Decide by meaning: the weightier the next word, the longer the silence.
- 4Round 3: drop half the pauses and keep only the ones that really add strength. Fewer pauses, and each one weighs more.
- 5Round 4: talk for a minute without a text, for example about yesterday. Every time you feel an “um” or a “like” coming, close your mouth and stay silent.
- 6Listen: how do the pauses change the feel of the text? Once a week, check it on a phone recording.
tip · A 2-second pause feels like forever when you're on stage. For the listener, it's a moment of anticipation and attention.
check yourself · Your pauses don't sound like “I forgot the words” but like confident silence that makes the next word weigh more.
Why it works
A filler word is a sound that covers a pause. While you look for the next thought, silence feels awkward, and your mouth fills it with “um” or “you know”. Banning the words rarely works: when you watch every word, your attention leaves the thought, and your speech gets even choppier.
What works is a swap: a short silence instead of the sound. A pause of a second or two sounds calm and sure from the outside, and the listener hardly notices it. To close your mouth where “um” used to be, you need to get used to silence. That's what the drill trains: first the pauses are marked in the text, then you keep only the ones that matter, and in the fourth round you carry them into free speech.
Common mistakes
- Rushing. Two seconds of silence feel like forever, so count “one-and, two-and” to yourself until that feeling fades.
- Swapping “um” for “so”, “right” or “basically”. That's the same filler in a new form. What you need is silence.
- Pausing with your mouth open. Close it, breathe in quietly through your nose and go on.
- Practicing only with a text. Reading builds the habit; free speech tests it: a minute about your day.
Questions
- How do I know how many filler words I use?
- Record yourself on your phone talking about yesterday for one minute, then count every “um”, “uh”, “like” and “you know”. Repeat once a week with a new topic.
- How long does it take to stop using filler words?
- The habit changes gradually. Practice for 3–5 minutes a day and compare your weekly recordings. Almost nobody speaks with none at all: one or two a minute go unnoticed.
- Won't the pauses sound strange?
- A pause between thoughts sounds natural: that's how experienced presenters talk. A pause in the middle of a phrase sounds odd, which is why the marks in the texts sit where one idea ends and the next begins.
More in the article: How to stop saying “um” and “like”
More exercises
- How to breathe while speaking: silent breathsRead a text aloud for 3 minutes and breathe in only through your nose, only in the pauses, without a sound. Learn to breathe while speaking unnoticed.
- How to emphasize words: the “Shifter”Say one phrase again and again, moving the stress word by word, for 1, 3 or 5 minutes. Hear how emphasis changes the meaning and use it on purpose.
- Stop repeating yourself: say it five waysTake a simple thought and say it out loud five different ways, each with its own angle or image. A drill of under 3 minutes to widen how you explain.