Why do so many people pepper their sentences with UMMs? Are they that unaware of how they sound?

Answer 1

Many, many people fear public speaking. Their (sometimes subconscious) way to fill that "dead air" is with such mannerisms. Most feel that every second needs to be filled with wonderful eloquence.

However, as just about anyone will tell you, a lot of people speak too quickly. If they would replace those "ums" with a moment to think and collect their thoughts for the next point, not only would the come across more confident, but it would give the listeners time to catch up!!

For people who have this problem, practice in front of a mirror. Stop yourself every time you want to say "um" and just don't say anything until you know what you will say next. You will quickly find that these pauses get shorter and shorter, and you will be a much more interesting speaker.

Answer 2

Yeah that bugs me too, especially if they constantly do it!!Maybe that's why they can't see how much they are annoying you. When I say or do things that are rather different, people usually ask why do I always say this or do that...but I catch on to what they are saying and change : )

Answer 3

Ummm, well, like, they, um, don't, er, listen. Or at least, I hope they don't listen. If they did, they would take care to not um, er, like, etc.

Answer 4

they are um, very um, afraid of um, long um pauses...

You should have heard the speeches my speech class gave...

'So um, like I was saying these um pots are like a representation of um you know the um child and um they grow and like they need water um so they um grow"... it was so bad I felt embarrassed just for knowing them....

Answer 5

some people get nervous/ cant think of anything to say & think "ummm...." is an acceptable substitute for their silence

Answer 6

They are probably, like, trying, like, to break another, like, annoying speech habit.