Filler words
Definition
The meaningless sounds or words — 'um,' 'uh,' 'like,' 'you know' — that slip in unconsciously while you think, filling the gap as you gather your thoughts.
In depth
A few are natural, but frequent fillers read as unsure or unprepared — especially when they cluster at logical transitions like 'but' and 'so,' weakening the persuasion right where it matters.
Tip
Record a short take on your iPhone and listen for filler words. Try the reducing-fillers training in Bloom Speech, changing one sentence at a time.