Small Business

Learn to Cut the Crutch Words From Your Speeches

By Rick Broida

Updated on: November 9, 2007 / 12:01 PM EST / MoneyWatch

A few days ago we gave you the scoop on overcoming your fear of public speaking. Now that you've mastered that, it's time to polish your speaking skills by cutting out all those "crutch words": ah, um, uh, and so on. Lifehack.org offers a batch of helpful tips, including these:

Practice, practice, practice! - You should know your presentation backwards and forwards before giving it. If you spend all your time thinking of what to say next, you can't put emphasis on avoiding crutch words. Once you eliminate crutch words you can deliver unprepared speeches more effectively, but it is hard to cut the um's if you aren't prepared.
Breathe In, Not Out - When you feel the temptation to ummm your way through a point, breathe in. This may add a pause to your presentation, but it will be far better than an ugly crutch word which blurs sentences together.
Avoid them in Conversation - You speak all the time. Watch your crutch words when chatting with friends and family. If it helps on stage it will help in a conversation. Plus you'll get far more practice.

I confess: I end a lot of sentences with "um" when I give presentations; it's a terrible habit, and I know it makes me sound less professional. So you can bet I'll be taking this advice to heart. What about you? Have you, ah, overcome those dreaded crutch words? If so, tell us how in the, er, Comments!