by 
ron4540
ANSWERS: 6
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Very good question. I do it quite often, but I think you have to be confident when you speak. Know what you will say before you say it. Try to be clear and to the point so you won't have to explain and ramble on and on about what you will say. Sometimes you say 'um' because you are searching for a word. A bigger vocabulary would help you find the right word and you should also practice (of course) public speaking. Don't worry, I'm trying to get rid of my 'um's and 'like's and I think the vocabulary point helped me the most. I don't have to go around explaining a word in 50 different words.
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When you feel like saying "um", just stop talking until you find the right word. (that is what I do and it works) be careful not to bore the other person with "dead air".
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People say "um" to mentally pause while they gather their thoughts or organize what they are going to say next. If you do this without vocalizing "um" and pause. If you end your sentence before pausing, you will also eliminate the need to say so many "um"s. Organizing your thoughts in sentences instead of bits and pieces of ideas may also help.
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Guilty as charged.
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Try slowing down and thinking out your answers before speaking. Many people start speaking as a conditioned response to a question before their brain has even formulated an answer. The "um" is liek when you are downloading something and the little thing says "loading . . .". If you formulate the answer then speak, the ums usually go away or at least diminish quite a bit.
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I do a LOT. My daughter even incorporates it into her babbling....I need to stop as well.
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