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There are certain words or phrases that people use unconsciously as fillers to a conversation or to pause for time as they gather their thoughts on what to say next. Many people can caught in the trap of saying something and meaning nothing. A common remark you will hear interspersed in conversations and presentations is “uh” or “hmm”. When we hear those interjections, we subconsciously filter it as an unnecessary noise uttered by the person but in essence meaning nothing. Sometimes, we use it to indicate that we are just searching our mind for the appropriate words or sentences to say next as our follow through on the conversation or presentation. This may be excusable in an ordinary conversation but experienced presenters should avoid saying these during their presentations. These and other similar meaningless phrases should be avoided as much as possible. Here are some words or phrases may be confusing to some people and you may wish to avoid saying.
“To be honest with you” or “frankly speaking” are phrases which do not add relevance unless you wish to emphasize that everything you said beforehand were deceitful and not candid. Some people contend that it may be used to create an intimate atmosphere with the person and indicate you are about to divulge a deep secret to the listener. This is a valid contention. However, not many people may be familiar with this idiom and might interpret it more as a confession that you were deceitful in your prior statements. It may be best to avoid saying this rather than take the risk of a misunderstanding.
“Kinda”, “sorta”, and “wanta” are slang words which have found their way into the common vernacular. These expressions are meant to show uncertainty to perform an action or lacking knowledge to express the correct concise words. Say, somebody asks if you are sick and you reply with “sorta”, it implies that you are not sick but you may be experiencing some symptoms of illness which you can’t define exactly. This may lead the person to grope for other words that may help you describe your feelings in a more precise manner. These replies imply your inadequacy of the English language and may cause your listeners to lose interest in whatever you wanted to disseminate to them. Avoid vagueness and try to be lucid.
“You know’ or “You know what I mean” are loose expressions that are heard quite often from someone who is explaining something. It is said without much thought and aims to be more of a speech filler while the speaker is thinking of what to say next. The common reaction of a listener would be to nod or blurt out a affirmative reply to the expression. This reaction does not necessarily mean that the listener “knows what he means” but rather as an indication that the listener is still focused to the speaker. Some people contend that it is an expression to test whether people understood what was said and provides the listener with the opportunity of seeking clarification. It may be best to leave out the phrase, pause and observe the reaction of the audience.
Select your words carefully. Be concise and precise in your statements. Avoid saying words or phrases that could lead to confusion and misunderstandings. Enhance your vocabulary skills or if you can’t find the right word, try to explain it in a clear and concise manner rather than saying words that add vagueness.
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