Article by Featured Author
Posted April 2025In a previous article I wrote about two schools of thought on the spoken word and recounted that one school was not concerned with the precision or correctness of speech or words. This school takes the position that as long as a general idea is communicated, the form of that communication is less important than successfully conveying the idea. The other school views clear and concise speech as desirable and capable of conveying clear points in an understandable fashion that can impart nuanced positions and make fine distinctions. Excess words that have no utility not only waste time and breath but can detract from the point being made.
Filler words burden speech. They add nothing to the thought conveyed. Filler words are often used when the speaker does not know how to make a transition or needs time to choose their next word or phrase. The classic filler words are “You know,” but they have been supplanted in more recent years with the filler word “So” at the beginning of a sentence and “Right” at the end.
There is a mid-sentence filler word that now is as common as a restaurant server saying “Perfect” following the placement of an order. The adverb “Actually” is a good and decent word. It can be used to “correct ideas or facts or views” and to indicate that something is unexpected. Correcting the unexpected is clear from the following conversations. Statement: “You are so knowledgeable about atoms. You must have majored in Chemistry in college.” Response: “I actually never attended college.” Statement: “The Steelers are a great passing team.” Response: “They actually run more than they pass.” By the same token statements such as “I actually had brown hair in my younger days” or “She actually thought I was going to propose” convey a sense of surprise or that what follows is unusual.
I challenge you to listen to personal conversations, interviews on the radio, pulpit messages, or responses to direct examination questions to see how often the word “Actually” is used in speech. You will need more than an abacus to number them. Then ask yourself was the word “Actually” necessary, did it provide meaning or understanding, did it work as a helpful adverb, or did it just land in mid-sentence to take up time or space.
In a similar vein there are two other words used interchangeably that often add nothing to the thought process—“Sorta” and “Kinda.” Again, these words have a valid use even if they are considered slang and can convey the same meaning as “somewhat,” “rather,” or “comparatively.” But often they merely take up space in conversations.
Admittedly, it may not be appropriate to use clear, concise, grammatically correct speech in all settings. But attorneys are often in an environment where thoughtful, proper speech is advantageous, expected, and necessary. In such cases, get rid of filler words, embrace a pause, and make a transition using real words.
Next article: Unnecessary phrases.
