Remove These Words to Sound More Intelligent

Precision in speech is a survival skill. Learn why removing filler words like just and very makes you sound like a man who knows his worth and commands respect

By Your Bro · Sat Nov 24 2018 · Self Improvement

Communication has devolved into cave paintings and modern day hieroglyphics. If you sound like a half-literate teenager in a boardroom or on a date, do not be surprised when you are treated like a child.

The Death of the Intellectual Attention Span

In our world, people have reverted back to cave paintings to communicate. Yes, emojis are modern day hieroglyphics. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide rely on memes and headlines for their daily dose of news. Everyone wants things said quickly. Shortened attention spans discourage the masses from reading more words than necessary. If you can't get to the point, people stop listening. Research from Pew Research Center shows a steady decline in long-form reading habits among adults, which means the few men who can still speak with precision have an immediate advantage. When you remove specific filler words, you sharpen your writing and your presence.

Stop Leading with a Lack of Trust

Honestly. This word is usually used to add emphasis, but it backfires. Including it implies that the rest of your words beforehand were not the truth. Everything you are saying should be honest. You are not a liar, because liars are weak and fearful. If you feel the need to tell someone you are being honest, you have already lost the high ground. I wrote about this in my guide on how to tell if someone is untruthful; people who over-explain their integrity are usually the ones missing it.

Maybe. This word conveys uncertainty and detracts from your point. It is the verbal equivalent of a shrug. It is better to live in facts. If you are writing about conjecture or conspiracy, it is understandable. In most other situations, it is unnecessary filler. I remember a boss I had in my twenties. I told him maybe we could hit the deadline. He looked at me and said he didn't pay for maybes. He paid for yes or no. I stopped using the word that afternoon.

The Filler That Dilutes Your Authority

That. This is usually unnecessary junk. To check if it is required, find a sentence with it and read it back to yourself. Then, take it out and try it again. If the sentence works without it, eliminate it. Some people also use it where they should use who. When referring to a person, use who. Example: I am the guy who loves pizza, not the guy that loves pizza.

Just. Unless you are using it as a synonym for equitable, fair, or impartial, it is simply a filler word. Just cut it out. It makes you sound like you are apologizing for taking up space. Instead of saying I just wanted to check in, say I am checking in. It is a small shift, but it changes you from a supplicant to a peer. This is part of the top 10 skills every man should have: the ability to speak clearly without permission.

Like. In formal contexts, this should not begin a sentence or fill space before an adjective. Unless you want to sound like a valley girl straight out of Clueless, use it only for comparisons or preferences. Every time you use it as a pause, your IQ drops ten points in the eyes of the listener. It is a verbal tic born of nerves. Breathe instead of filling the silence.

Stop Using Weak Qualifiers

Very. Precise adjectives do not need qualifiers. Very is intended to magnify, but it inadvertently makes your statement less specific. Better words exist. Instead of saying it was a very long wait, say you waited an hour longer than you should have. How long is very long? It is highly subjective. Very tall and very cold mean different things to different people. Be specific. Say he is 6'7" or it is 11 degrees below freezing. According to the American Psychological Association, vague language often leads to increased cognitive load for the listener, which makes them like you less. Don't make them work to understand you.

Amazing and Super. These words are overused and diluted. If everything is amazing, nothing is. The more frequently you use these words, the less emphasis they hold. Reserve these for the truly spectacular. A sandwich is not amazing. A sunset in the desert after a week of rain might be amazing. Keep your superlatives in your pocket until they are earned.

The Danger of Absolutes

Always and Never. Absolutes lock you into a set position and sound close-minded. This opens the door to criticism regarding potential inaccuracies in your stance. This will dilute your message and shift the focus onto proving you wrong, rather than persuasion. These are rarely true, though they can be effective for instructions, math, or science. In a relationship or a business negotiation, using always or never is a fast track to a fight. You are giving the other person a target to hit. If you say you never do the dishes, all she has to do is remember one Tuesday in 2019 to win the argument.

Paint a Better Picture

Went. This is the laziest verb in the English language. Instead of went, try using more descriptive verbs like walked, flew, drove, or attended. It paints a more detailed picture. Instead of saying I went to Hawaii last year, say I flew to Hawaii. It sounds more interesting because it is more active. If you want to become the leader you were created to be, start by leading with your vocabulary. A man who can describe his world accurately is a man who understands it.

Irregardless. Some scholars do not even believe this is a word. It likely does not mean what you think it means. It is literally defined as: regardless. Use nevertheless or anyway instead. Using a word that doesn't exist to sound smart is the fastest way to achieve the opposite.

—Your Bro