If you like, removed the word like, from like, the typical Californian, like teen’s like, conversations, conversations would be like, totally, like shorter, and like, more direct.
But I’m like, really not, like, sure what they’d, like, do with, like, all that, like, hella extra, like time.
But one day, some teen somewhere is going to catch on that when they remove the word “like” from their vocabulary, they have an enormous amount of time for, like, other things and like, stuff.
That teen is, like, going to like, rule the world.
*This ended up being a bit more controversial (or at least a hot topic) than was intended. I wasn’t trying to make a social commentary as much as make a joke.
While I know we all do something (ums, likes, actuallys…), the degree to which we do that thing can limit how effective we are at communicating our message.
Using filler words is like a viral, like invasion on like the effectiveness of like communication. And so much of one’s life is dependent on how one communicates.
Part of the issue with “like” (and other words) is that many people who use it as a filler word are unaware of how much they use it. And if you’re not aware of what you communicate when you speak, then what else are you not aware of?
Your body language? The signals you send others when you’re in their presence? These can be very subtle things, and yet speak volumes about you (and not necessary be accurate) — without you ever using your voice.
I’m not against using “like” as a filler. And I very much appreciate the flow of natural speaking and dialogue. But I do think that the closer you can get to the essence of what you’re trying to say, without unnecessary additions, the more effective you will be at communicating.
“Simplicity is the glory of expression.” — Walt Whitman
That said, I may be the poster child for long-winded. But when I write, rather than follow “rules”, try to write with sentence flow in mind. And that’s when I add fillers. It’s kind of like what I imagine writing songs is like…except, like, totally different.
Graham Norton S11E11 – Miriam Margolyes The Word “like” (video)