When you listen to interviewers and interviewees on the radio or television, count the number of times you hear words that replace “ummm” and “uhhh” — words that allow the speaker to stall until they can think of what to say.
Here’s one that makes me cringe: It’s interesting. I hear this from questioners and respondents alike:
- “It’s interesting, because …”
- “That’s an interesting question. …”
- “You know, what’s interesting is …”
While I’m glad to be told that something is interesting, I’m a little insulted — if it’s really interesting, I’ll recognize that not because you told me, but because it’s interesting.
So all of these “it’s interesting” uses are just stall tactics … no different from saying “uhhh” or “ummm”.
What are some other modern-day replacements for “ummm”?