So, like, I totally get where you’re coming from, like, yeah saying "like" isn’t thaaat bad, like, it's totally normal, right?

Yes, it may be the norm to say “like” multiple times in a sentence, but it is a filler word which can make you sound less intelligent. If you are interested in making yourself sound more professional and intelligent, then continue reading to find out why and how you should stop using “like.” If not, then, like, continue saying like and sounding unsure...?

How you speak to people can be a very big indicator of intelligence, and influence the assumptions people make about you upon first impressions. Whether or not you are an intelligent person, hearing the word “like” in like every other word, it like, causes you to lose credibility, and makes your sentences sound choppy.

Using “like” less in your conversations can benefit you when talking in job interviews, with professors and with people of authority, as well as anyone you are trying to impress. Cause, like, you could totally sound like a “valley girl,” if you, like, use like, like, way too often when you speak, and valley girls tend to have a poor reputation and are often thought of as, well, not the brightest.

If you are now worrying that you may have fallen victim to the valley girl persona, fear not! There are ways you can fix this. The first step in improving your communication style is to notice how you speak, and focus on when you use the word like. Being mindful of the number of times you say the word, and how you use it is the start to changing the habit. Instead of, “Mary was like,” you could try, “Mary said” or “Mary did this.”

The most common ways people misuse “like” is in quoting others, discussing quantities, and as a way to modify adjectives and adverbs. When quoting someone, instead of using “like”, you could try finding another word, such as mentioned or said. In talking about quantities, “there were, like, 500 cookies.,” you could instead try, “there were about 500 cookies.” Lastly, in saying, “that cookie was like, the biggest cookie you’ve ever seen,” just say it was the biggest cookie you have ever seen.

It can be a tough habit to break and can seem impossible now, but in saying “like” less often when you speak, you may be surprised to the difference it makes. Try to notice how others react to you when you do say like more often, and when you don’t say it at all.