# Verbal filler that are just the worst. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121 "2017-08-30T18:53:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/41 "2017-08-31T11:43:56Z")
那个， 那个， 那个, in Chinese roughly sounds like something I don’t want to repeat here, but will anyway: “nigga, nigga, nigga.” ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/42 "2017-08-31T11:47:31Z")
When women (rarely hear men use this phrase) say “but, i just feel…” instead of giving an explanation. I suppose it could be used to omit information, but those who tend to say it, prefer to use it a lot, thus somewhat a filler. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/43 "2017-08-31T12:22:26Z")
Similarly (tangentially?) I cannot stand a listener who cannot listen with their fucking mouth shut. As part of my job, I’ll be explaining something to a client. Maybe six or eight sentences, all told. There is _no need_ for a response until I’ve completed my soliloquy, yet they are saying, “ah huh” or “oh, yes” or “hmmmmmm” every few seconds, all the time nodding and making affirming facial expressions. Seriously dude? I’ll entertain any and all questions after I’ve had my say, but no, you have to go fucking with my mojo. /tangential rant #pet-peeve ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/44 "2017-08-31T12:23:04Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > When women (rarely hear men use this phrase) say “but, i just feel…” instead of giving an explanation. I suppose it could be used to omit information, but those who tend to say it, prefer to use it a lot, thus somewhat a filler. People who go to marriage counseling are taught to talk like this. I’m sure when one gets in the habit of talking this way, they do it not just with their spouses, but with everybody. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/45 "2017-08-31T13:09:36Z")
I would not consider the positive anymore a verbal filler! It is definitely doing meaningful work in sentences where it is used. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/46 "2017-08-31T13:12:36Z")
‘But, uh’ is funny because it sounds like butter. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/47 "2017-08-31T13:16:45Z")
Starting answers to questions with “So ------”. You hear it a lot when politicians, authors and historians are being interviewed on the various state-level cable shows like PA Books on PCN. For some reason it just drives me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/48 "2017-08-31T13:59:29Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Or it’s way more annoying cousin “knowwhatimean” behind everything. :o I am guilty of this. I’ll try harder, if that makes any sense? 😛 > [@Grrr!](#): > > In my experience, “so” seems to be a favorite word with manager types. > > Ask them a question during a meeting at work, and they will start off with: “Sssooo…” > > As they are saying the “so” part, you can see the gears in their head spinning trying to come up with a bull shit answer. My manager does too, and so do I. It is to give me a moment to organize the order of what I need to say and be clear about it. My theory is the introductory “I’m collecting my thoughts” word changes over time. It may have been Um, er, and those sounded bad, so it becomes “Well…” which eventually becomes “So…” I noticed on The Daily Show or other pundit interviews that the interviewee sometimes says “Look,…” It’s a more aggressive form of “So…”, communicating “I’m about to make a decisive proclamation about something”. They analyzed the use of “So…” on NPR A Way With Words, and the linguist said it also signals that the speaker agrees with what you said and is expanding on it. I’m thinking “Well…” might signify that they don’t agree and will tell you why, like a “Well, but…” ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/49 "2017-08-31T14:12:23Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > People who go to marriage counseling are taught to talk like this. I’m sure when one gets in the habit of talking this way, they do it not just with their spouses, but with everybody. I suppose it would make sense in that case, but those whom I hear it the most from have never been married, let alone to any type of counseling. I don’t know what their excuse is. All I know is it is tremendously annoying. Since when was “I think” (meaning, to know to the best of your ability) not good enough. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/50 "2017-08-31T14:21:20Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > “That being said, …” seems to be growing in popularity. I think I may soon find it annoying. I have reached that point! Very annoying. We were at a wedding reception last weekend. During the best man’s speech, he must have used the phrase “that being said” 50 times. UGH! Eventually, the other groomsmen were laughing their asses off every time he said it. So then he got flustered and it really got out of control. It was like a neon sign of “that being said” was flashing above his head. Poor guy, I hope he learned his lesson. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/51 "2017-08-31T14:51:24Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > “To be honest…” > (wait, you weren’t being honest before?) I try to edit this one out of my writing. It’s kind of a “bless your heart”: I put it in when I’m feeling scornful or irritated at someone. If I’ve started a post with it, chances are I need to chill out. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/52 "2017-08-31T15:28:01Z")
I’m not sure this fits the thread exactly, but I needed to complain about it anyway. I place a lot of orders by phone, and the other day I spoke to a young man who needed to make continuous noises while he was entering my information, I guess to make sure I knew he hadn’t gone away. “Okay, let me pull up your account…ch ch ch ch ch ch…there, now what’s your phone number? Ch ch ch ch ch ch ch, okay got it…” It was _painful_. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/53 "2017-08-31T15:52:17Z")
I used to tour guide in college and I noticed myself saying “and things like that” a whoooole helluva lot. I tried very hard to stop myself. Also as a tour guide, and my short stints teaching as a grad assistant, it would drive me insane when someone has a question, or they’re responding to one of my questions, and I call on them and they start their question/answer with “Well, I was gonna say…”. You weren’t “gonna” say anything! You just said it! One girl I had did this every. [del]fuckin[/del] freakin. time. and I absolutely hated it. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/54 "2017-08-31T15:57:12Z")
“Can I ask you a question?” a) You just did; b) Now it’s going to be TWO questions. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/55 "2017-08-31T16:00:24Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Also as a tour guide, and my short stints teaching as a grad assistant, it would drive me insane when someone has a question, or they’re responding to one of my questions, and I call on them and they start their question/answer with “Well, I was gonna say…”. You weren’t “gonna” say anything! You just said it! > > One girl I had did this every. [del]fuckin[/del] freakin. time. and I absolutely hated it. Yes, I had a co-worker who did this. It immediately takes away the impact of what you are saying, esp. if you say “No, I was just going to say…” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/56 "2017-08-31T16:56:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Similarly (tangentially?) I cannot stand a listener who cannot listen with their fucking mouth shut. > > As part of my job, I’ll be explaining something to a client. Maybe six or eight sentences, all told. There is _no need_ for a response until I’ve completed my soliloquy, yet they are saying, “ah huh” or “oh, yes” or “hmmmmmm” every few seconds, all the time nodding and making affirming facial expressions. > > Seriously dude? I’ll entertain any and all questions after I’ve had my say, but no, you have to go fucking with my mojo. > > /tangential rant #pet-peeve Yes!! Happens a lot on _Antiques Roadshow_. Makes me stabby. Yunnastan wuddime sane? ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/57 "2017-08-31T17:07:13Z")
I cannot tolerate the use of “so” and “well” at the beginning of sentences. Makes the speaker sound ignorant. I realize those words are place or thought holders. I’ve trained myself to keep quiet until I can formulate my words without using so or well. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/58 "2017-08-31T18:33:08Z")
I knew an Egyptian woman , that sai "yanny’ as a filler and she was speaking English . Then a scots that’ yer Ken?, ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/59 "2017-08-31T19:06:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Similarly (tangentially?) I cannot stand a listener who cannot listen with their fucking mouth shut. > > As part of my job, I’ll be explaining something to a client. Maybe six or eight sentences, all told. There is _no need_ for a response until I’ve completed my soliloquy, yet they are saying, “ah huh” or “oh, yes” or “hmmmmmm” every few seconds, all the time nodding and making affirming facial expressions. > > Seriously dude? I’ll entertain any and all questions after I’ve had my say, but no, you have to go fucking with my mojo. > > /tangential rant #pet-peeve _makes a note not to hang up with kayaker as she doesn’t want to irritate him_ Can I get a pass if it’s cultural? In Spain not making those “I hear you” noises would be considered to indicate a lack of attention. We clap in the middle of concerts too. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121/60 "2017-08-31T19:17:45Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > _makes a note not to hang up with kayaker as she doesn’t want to irritate him_ Can I get a pass if it’s cultural? In Spain not making those “I hear you” noises would be considered to indicate a lack of attention. We clap in the middle of concerts too. I tend to have bitch resting face so when someone is talking I try to look interested/pleasant, nod, etc., to (1) keep myself engaged in what is being said (2) not make you feel like I hate everything you are saying to me. I realized another one I do: “As far as I know, …”, “as far as I understand it, …” or “to the best of my knowledge, …”. It’s because everything is decentralized around here and communication sucks so who knows, things may have changed since I last heard about it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/verbal-filler-that-are-just-the-worst/795121.md?page=4)