While filler words can help conversations flow, research suggests overusing them may signal uncertainty or a shaky command of ...

Instead of texting, my friends and I send each other voice memos. They’re like a mini podcast to listen to on my way to class, but I usually cringe when I listen back to a few of my own and hear the ...

Time to limit your reliance on verbal crutches once and for all. So, like, uh, yeah, um, well, verbal crutches can be, like, super distracting, you know? They may be harmless every once in a while, ...

“Filler words are part of your mental dictionary, even things like um or uh,” said Dr. Idan Blank, assistant professor of psychology and linguistics at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. As someone who’s originally from Southern California and now lives in the South, it’s not uncommon for me to get Valley girl ...

If there were “Survivor” for words, I’d vote off “literally.” It’s inserted into sentences for no real reason. Consider: I am literally the hungriest person in the world right now. I am literally ...

Filler words like “umm” and “etc.” can often disrupt the flow of conversation. A renowned communication expert reveals tricks to avoid them. Choosing the right words while communicating is of utmost ...

The tiniest quirks in our speech can change how we’re perceived. But, um, filler words aren’t the villains they’re made out to be. They’re, you know, working behind the scenes. “We group them all ...

As someone who’s originally from Southern California and now lives in the South, it’s not uncommon for me to get Valley girl comments. I have a habit of throwing in a quick “you know, like” or “so ...