Ten verbal tics to drop from your vocabulary

COMMUNICATION is key. The art of speech is one of its prime components, but so many of us do not understand its nuances. For nuances are what separate a great orator from a bumbling office jester, and your song of persuasion must have no incidentals, must never be suddenly sharp or flat. Walking the walk is easy. One foot goes in front of the other, come on, you're not a pirate here. Talking the talk is another thing entirely, and it starts with a little housekeeping.

"Um" Or Any Slight Variation Of "Um"

What it means: You haven't thought this through and/or you're nervous as hell.

This is basic how-to-talk-good 101 stuff, but it bears repeating because so many people don't even realise they're peppering otherwise impressive sentiment with foul nothing-sounds. A prevalence of "um" or "uh" means you are not entirely confident, and confidence is catching. So is the opposite. Strike these non-words from your word arsenal. Best way to work out whether you do this is to video yourself talking about a topic and play it back. Mortifying, huh.

"To Be Honest"

What it's used for: An always failed attempt to imply frankness.

If speech was the great game of baseball, this would be "Batter up!" - only it's a crappy batter, with no arms, and a dumb head everyone in the stands talks about in hushed tones. Probably. "To be honest" is something they teach joualists not to say, ever. If you have to clarify your honesty, the implication is that you are not a particularly honest person most of the time. This might be true, but you don't want to walk around throwing your arms wide yelling "I'm a f*****g liar!"

"In My Opinion"

What it's used for: Limp-wristed grab for the room's attention.

What everybody is saying is generally their opinion to some degree, especially if words are flowing back and forth between different parties. So why would you need to preface your obvious opinion with the disclaimer that it's your opinion? You're either having trouble cutting through the noise or are not of sufficient regard that anyone cares to lend you their ears. If this is about to fly off your lips, it's usually a big red klaxxon that's letting you know: Keep listening.

"Don't Take This The Wrong Way"

What it's used for: Signals to the person you're addressing that they're going to take what you're about to say the wrong way. Just don't.

"I Hear What You're Saying"

What it means: You're trying to give proceedings an air of faiess, but you're stinking it up with pointlessness instead.

Do you? You might hear it, but you're telling them you haven't listened to it. This is essentially talking over someone, but with a subtle incision whereupon you give them the impression they've had their chance to speak. The instant someone says this, start packing it in - you're talking to the predetermined and you could be doing other stuff, like playing PS4.

"I'm Just Saying"

What it's used for: Captain Obvious pleads for mercy.

What are you just saying? You're saying something, that much is already crystal, because you're talking. Busting this out indicates a quiet desperation that is growing increasingly louder. If you have to passively grovel to get your point across, your point is not sharp enough to penetrate the chain mail and boiled leather of the other side anyway. Take it back to the blacksmith in your mind and hammer and tong it instead.

"I Don't Mean To Be Rude/Racist/Offensive"

What it's used for: Easy out for awful people.

You very plainly suspect or even flat-out know what you're about to say is rude, racist, and/or offensive, but you really want to say it because you're a massive jackass and your bad vibes simply must be felt by everyone. This is your go-to disarmament plan, and it's so gutless it could be a quaint stick figure. If you ever feel yourself saying this, reconsider what you're going to say. Chances are it serves no purpose whatsoever other than to darken the room.

"Whatever"

What it's used for: Blithe post-convo smokescreen for losers.

No, not whatever. Never whatever. You are conceding defeat but trying to make it sound like you're not losing. Nobody is fooled. If you're going to get beat, get beat graciously. Who knows, further discussion may bloom and a new avenue for victory may appear. You'll never know if you run.

"Now Don't Get Mad"

What it means: You know they're going to get mad.

Favoured by beta males dealing with their lady friend, should they by some glimmer of luck manage to secure one. This is both ironic and self-sabotaging. You are explicitly stating that what you're about to say will anger the other party, and you are also leading their emotions by inadvertently suggesting they should feel as such - even if they don't.

"Like"

What it's used for: Buying time like only a Valley girl can.

And you are no Valley girl. Applying "like" as a speed bump before or during a sentence makes you seem spectacularly vapid. Whether by actuality or thanks to pop culture, it perfumes the room with a kind of naive uncertainty and this is never something you want. Know what you're going to say, and say it. Don't just talk mindlessly into the ether.

This article originally appeared on AskMen.