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littlemissmartypants

(25,750 posts)
Thu Nov 8, 2018, 05:52 PM Nov 2018

How to Upgrade your Speech by Not Saying "Like"

How to Upgrade your Speech by Not Saying “Like”

POSTED ON OCTOBER 28, 2018 BY TAYLOR | CATEGORIES: SELF IMPROVEMENT, SUCCESS
Language and speech are a beautiful thing. And while there are countless books available on the ‘correct’ way to use words and sentences, ultimately the only right way is the way you wish. Each culture and sub-culture contains as many variations on the local language as it does individuals. Efforts to regulate the way people talk are often bound up in politics and social currents that have little to do with the best interests of those who are expected to change the way they speak.

However! We do not each live in a bubble. While the ‘fingerprint’ of your speech is precious, there may be habits you’ve picked up which – while not being ‘wrong’ – are less special than others. And these habits can be misconstrued by the people to whom you speak, who will interpret the nuances of your speech to mean stuff that you quite possibly don’t intend to convey.

Take, for example, the filler. Filler words and sounds include things such as beginning a sentence with ‘so,’ or using the word ‘like’ all over the place to replace terms of approximation (about, around), said words (“I was like, ‘no way!’), or just when you’re struggling to find the correct word at all.

Sometimes we use these words because we feel rushed, or lack the confidence to use a more complex, precise alternative, or wish to convey that we’re speaking in a ‘down to Earth’ way. Experts say that the use of these words can actually be a sign of intelligence or thoughtfulness. The word ‘like’ modulates your sentence; it implies that what you’re saying is nuanced and that you wish to express your meaning clearly.
Snip

More at link.

https://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/how-to-upgrade-your-speech-by-not-saying-like/

~lmsp

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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How to Upgrade your Speech by Not Saying "Like" (Original Post) littlemissmartypants Nov 2018 OP
Peppering one's sentences with "like" denotes intelligence? On what planet? flibbitygiblets Nov 2018 #1
Like, so, ... calimary Nov 2018 #2
And I'm like, "I dunno," ya know? Glorfindel Nov 2018 #3
That's, like, just somebody's opinion, man... n/t TygrBright Nov 2018 #4
Like totally. tymorial Nov 2018 #5
Ima like gonna be so smart! sdfernando Nov 2018 #6
So, let me get this straight. llmart Nov 2018 #7
While I'm used to teens and young adults saying "like" I can't believe the number of women LuckyLib Dec 2018 #8
Furthermore, "like" did not mean "as if" when I was in school. Lionel Mandrake Jan 2019 #9

flibbitygiblets

(7,220 posts)
1. Peppering one's sentences with "like" denotes intelligence? On what planet?
Thu Nov 8, 2018, 05:54 PM
Nov 2018

Excuse me. On, like, what planet?

I rest my case.

Glorfindel

(9,943 posts)
3. And I'm like, "I dunno," ya know?
Thu Nov 8, 2018, 06:08 PM
Nov 2018

It's like, well, that's just your opinion, man. Know what I'm sayin'? Like, hipsville.

tymorial

(3,433 posts)
5. Like totally.
Thu Nov 8, 2018, 06:26 PM
Nov 2018

I also understand that constructing short stunted sentences with middle school level vocabulary and grammar is evidence of ones genius. And not just any type of genius, a like, bigly stable genius.

sdfernando

(5,404 posts)
6. Ima like gonna be so smart!
Thu Nov 8, 2018, 06:50 PM
Nov 2018

Some of this comes about because of texting on phones. People are in a hurry and do not want to type out a whole word.

LuckyLib

(6,906 posts)
8. While I'm used to teens and young adults saying "like" I can't believe the number of women
Wed Dec 26, 2018, 12:56 AM
Dec 2018

of all ages using the term constantly. Nothing signals a dip in intelligence than non-stop use of "like".

Lionel Mandrake

(4,126 posts)
9. Furthermore, "like" did not mean "as if" when I was in school.
Wed Jan 9, 2019, 02:44 AM
Jan 2019

So many people now substitute "like" for "as if" that eventually this will be correct usage, if it isn't already.

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