Filler words
Filler words are words like um, uh, like, you know, just and basically that fill a pause or soften a point without adding meaning. Paste writing to cut them, or record yourself speaking to count them per minute.
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Findings
Paste text or try the example.
Count your spoken filler words
AI transcription · on requestPractise a pitch, a status update or an interview answer for up to 3 minutes. We transcribe it and count every “um”, “uh”, “like” and “you know” per minute.
Recording isn’t available in this browser; upload a voice memo instead.
Audio is sent to our transcription model only when you stop or upload, and is not stored.
List of filler words to cut
These are the words CrispWrite flags, with the reason each one weakens business writing.
| Filler | Why cut it |
|---|---|
| just | Softens a request and makes it sound minor |
| really | Intensifier that rarely adds meaning |
| very | Pick a stronger word instead |
| actually | Implies the reader expected otherwise |
| basically | Signals a simplification you could simply make |
| literally | Almost always used figuratively |
| totally | Casual intensifier |
| quite | Vague degree word |
| simply | Can sound condescending |
| honestly | Suggests the rest was not honest |
| definitely | Adds emphasis the sentence rarely needs |
| certainly | Usually removable |
| obviously | If it were obvious, you would not say it |
| clearly | Tells the reader what to think |
| kind of | Hedge; say what it is |
| sort of | Hedge; say what it is |
| a bit | Minimises your point |
| a little | Minimises your point |
| in order to | Use "to" |
| i think | Weakens a claim you are making anyway |
| i feel like | Weakens a claim you are making anyway |
| i just wanted to | Get to the point: state the request |
| needless to say | Then do not say it |
| at the end of the day | Cliché; cut it |
| for what it's worth | Undercuts what follows |
| it goes without saying | Then do not say it |
| pretty much | Vague; commit or qualify precisely |
| you know | Spoken filler |
Examples of spoken filler words
| Type | Examples | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| Hesitation sounds | um, uh, er, erm, ah | Planning the next words; linguists call these “filled pauses” |
| Discourse markers | like, so, well, right, okay | Holding the floor or linking ideas |
| Checking phrases | you know, I mean, does that make sense? | Seeking agreement or reassurance |
| Intensifiers | basically, actually, literally, totally | Emphasis that has worn out through habit |
| Hedges | kind of, sort of, just, I guess | Softening, or uncertainty |
How to stop using filler words when speaking
- Measure first. Record a two-minute answer above and note your fillers per minute. Most people underestimate their count.
- Replace the filler with a pause. A one-second silence sounds deliberate to listeners; an “um” sounds unsure.
- Slow down. Fillers cluster when you speak faster than you can plan. Aim for roughly 130–150 words per minute in a presentation.
- Know your first and last sentence. Fillers peak at the start of an answer and at transitions.
- Re-record and compare. Track the per-minute number, not perfection; a few fillers are natural.
Before and after
I just wanted to check whether you’ve actually had a chance to look at the draft. I think it’s really close.
→ Have you had a chance to look at the draft? It’s close.
Half the words, the same meaning, and it reads as confident instead of apologetic.
Questions people ask
What are filler words?
Filler words are words and phrases that add length without adding meaning: “just”, “really”, “very”, “actually”, “basically”, “kind of”, “I think”. In speech they buy thinking time (like “um” and “you know”). In writing they dilute your point and can make you sound unsure.
Why should I remove filler words from emails?
They make a message longer and weaker. “I just wanted to check if you could maybe look at this” and “Could you look at this by Friday?” ask for the same thing, but the second is shorter, clearer and more likely to get a reply.
Are filler words always bad?
No. A little softening keeps a message human, and “really” in “I really appreciate it” carries warmth. The aim is to remove filler you use by habit, not every instance. The checker flags them; you decide.
What are examples of filler words?
In speech: um, uh, er, like, so, you know, I mean, right, okay. In writing: just, really, very, actually, basically, literally, kind of, sort of, I think, in order to. The tables on this page list both, with why each one weakens your message.
How many filler words per minute is normal?
There is no official benchmark, and counts vary a lot with context: everyone uses some in casual conversation. For presentations and interviews, a useful practical goal is to keep them rare enough that listeners stop noticing, and to watch your own per-minute number fall as you practise.
Why do people use filler words?
Mostly to buy planning time and to signal that they have not finished speaking. Research on “filled pauses” (for example by Herbert Clark and Jean Fox Tree, 2002) suggests “uh” tends to signal a short delay and “um” a longer one. Nerves, speaking quickly and unfamiliar material all increase them.
How do I count my filler words?
Use the recorder on this page: speak for up to three minutes or upload a voice memo, and it transcribes your speech and counts each filler, per minute. For written text, paste it in the checker at the top.
What is the difference between filler words and weasel words?
Filler words add length (“basically”, “actually”). Weasel words add vagueness: they avoid committing to a claim or a date (“many experts”, “soon”, “significantly”). Both weaken business writing; this site has a separate weasel word checker.