How do I stop using the word "like" so much?

Question

I have a habit of using the word like a lot, especially when I'm trying to explain something or tell a story. I think its because I talk too fast, and so the word "like" just slips out while I'm talking lol. How can I stop this?

Answer 1

When I was a teenager, I said like allllll the time!! You need to talk slowly and think about what you're saying when you speak. Think it out and be aware of what words come out of your mouth. When you think you are going to say like, stop, take a breath, and think about what you are REALLY trying to say.

Answer 2

Many people have this same habit. I don't say "like" but I know people who do. And I'm Canadian so I try very hard not to say "Eh!"

You have to start by telling yourself that you will pay close attention to how often you say it. Try to devise a way for one hour or half a day or a day of counting how many times you say "like". One way might be by starting with a handful of dried navy beans in your pocket and every time you catch yourself saying "like" move a bean to another pocket. At the end of the time count how many beans you moved and you will have an idea of how often you use the word.

Then as you practice being more aware of exactly what you are saying, you will begin to eliminate some of them. After a week of really focusing on not using "like" do the bean activity again, and see how much difference there is. You might be surprised what you can accomplish in a week when you really focus on making the change. Best of luck with it.

Answer 3

Use of stall words such as "like" and "y'know" and "umm" is learned; it can be unlearned. Some stall words are regional - speakers in the northeast are more prone to fill with "here" than are speakers in the desert southwest. Stall words occur in Spanish, German, Italian and I suppose in all languages.

The easy answer is to "think twice before speaking once". This will slow down your pace too.

I suppose you could go for hypnosis; I know it works to stop people from using those %$8#@! curse words.

Answer 4

Ask your family and friends to charge you $1 every time you use the word "like" to fill in a gap when you're speaking to them. That should help cure the habit. And good for you for trying to improve your speech!

Answer 5

I communicate about to my youngsters the way you communicate will impact how others choose you yet maximum little ones merely strengthen out of it! you may make it your seize word and doubtless placed on a t-blouse that asserts "DUDE" because it truly is in no way "cool" to assert issues your mothers and fathers say! LOL! yet extremely it truly is largely a youngsters way of self expression and attempting to be slightly self sufficient and experience mature, not the suitable of the global!

Answer 6

People say "like" and "you know" because they are afraid to stop talking or they speak too fast. Put pauses in your speech and think about what you are going to say before saying it.

Answer 7

You can sign up for a creative writing class. It helped me stop saying words such as; things, something, um, uh, and, & like.

Answer 8

Completly know all details of the subject in which you are discussing before you try to explain it to someone else.

Answer 9

u can try my way of stopping some habbits...
whenever u say the word like,
u immidiately give a hard knock on ur head ..
if u cant remember immidietly say the people surrounding u to give a hard knock on ur head ..
it is scientificaly prooved ...
whenever u r about to say the word like,
u will remember the knock that u got the previouse time and controll ur self...

hope i helped u!!!!

Answer 10

Ha Ha! Oh dear, I have a similar problem with the word "hope" when texting people.
Like hope you're ok, hope to see you soon, hope you slept well etc.

It bugs me but I can't think of another word to replace it.