How to Stop Saying "Um" in English
Do you ever stop talking in the middle of a sentence in English?
Everyone waits, and you don't know what to say next. This happens because you are thinking in two languages at the same time.
It's normal. It happens to many learners.
Examples of Bad Pauses
Many learners fill the silence with words like “okay”, "um," "well," "you know", “uh”, “yes”, “and”….
This can sound uncertain, you can make more mistakes, AND you will probably not respond properly.
Some examples I’ve heard from students:
❌ "So what I'm trying to say is, um, well, it's kind of like, you know what I mean?"
❌ “I think that, uh that, I said, can be that, and”
❌ “Yes, I agree. Because, um well, that is the best one”
How to Fix this
Stop.
Take one breath.
Then say a simple phrase. This sounds confident, not nervous.
✅ [stop and breathe] "What I'm really getting at is this."
5 Phrases You Can Use to Pause
In a meeting or presentation:
"That's an interesting point."
"Let me gather my thoughts."
"Good question, let me think."
"I want to make sure I explain this clearly."
In a conversation with friends:
"Wait, let me think for a second."
"Actually, let me say this a different way."
"You know, it's like this..."
When you want to start again or fully reset:
"What I really mean is..."
"Let me put it this way."
"Here's the thing."
"Basically, what I want to say is..."
Try This
Next time you start to say "um... well...," stop.
Take one breath.
Use one of these phrases instead. Practice saying it out loud, so it's ready when you need it.
Watch the Video
Want to listen to this in action?
Watch the full video here →
