If you thought you said "like" in just about every sentence, there's another word you probably use more and you just don't realize it.

As someone who talks into a microphone for a living, it took many, many years of practice to stop myself from saying "like", "uh", and "you know" as often as we naturally would in every day speaking.

"Filler words are words, phrases, or sounds that people use to fill in empty spaces in communication, or to mark a pause or hesitation in speech. They are also known as vocal disfluencies, hesitations, or pause fillers." [grammarly]

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If you're wondering, you can always record yourself in a conversation or memorize long sentences to be more conscious of how you speak and say things.  It'll also strengthen your vocabulary!

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Remember in high school when you would have to do an impromptu speech in front of the entire class and half the words that came out of your mouth were "um"?  Yeah, you're not alone!

Um, Is This Seriously Illinois' Favorite Filler Word? No Way.

Apparently, 32% of Illinois residents have been shamed for constantly using filler words.  Our favorite "filler" word is UM.  UM....... REALLY?

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Man, I used "um" so much growing up.  We all did!  It's an easy word to slip in when you're trying to take a pause or think of the next thing you're going to say.

Next time you have the urge to say "um", take my advice for what it's worth: Silence is equally as powerful in storytelling - remember that!

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Today is the day that we found out how aggravated some people get when other people use certain words or phrases. Here's the list of the worst offenses.

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25 LOL Things Illinois Folks Say When You Knock on Their Bathroom Stall

If you are the awkward one that doesn't know what to say when you're in a public bathroom and someone knocks on the door, try using one of these.

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