Today’s question isn’t actually from the mailbag.
(“Mailbag” is the English expression for questions and comments sent to a writer.)
A student asked this question during the monthly live training for Society members.
I’m answering it here again because I liked it and it’s something different.
And it is…
“How do I stop using filler words?”
What’s a filler word?
They’re those “words” (more like sounds) that people use between the real words. It’s like they’re “filling” the space.
I’m talking about “um” and “uh” and “ah.”
All those sounds you never heard Winston Churhill say.
So how do you get rid of them so you can sound smarter and more professional?
It’s quiet easy, really.
First, you slow down; confident people speak slowly.
Then, when you want to use a filler word, you simply don’t.
Instead, you let there be silence… a pause.
And you’re comfortable with the pause because… you also know that it makes your message more… dramatic.
Plus… it makes what you’re saying sound more… interesting.
See how that works?