When your listeners pay more attention to your speech patterns than your content, they’re not hearing you.

Uptalk. Vocal fries. T-glottalization. Excessive buzzwords and slang. Incorrect pronunciation. Mumbling. Repeated words. Filler sounds. Incoherent sentences.

If your speech habits include any of the above, your ability to communicate is likely compromised. And if you can’t communicate effectively, it doesn’t matter how smart you are, you’ll be at a disadvantage professionally and personally.

You may not even be aware that you’re doing things that distract your listeners. Or you may do some things deliberately because your favorite influencers are doing them. (Please, just stop!) The best way to tell is to record some of your conversations so you can listen to how you speak and spot those annoying, distracting speech habits that include:

Uptalk. Also known as upspeak and high rising intonation, this is when you end a statement with a rising inflection so that it sounds like a question. “I’m going to the store” (statement) sounds like “I’m going to the store?” (question). It can make you sound less credible, less confident, and less authoritative.

Vocal fry. Also known as glottal fry, this is when you speak at a very low pitch and your voice has a raspy, scratchy sound. It’s often most noticeable at the end of sentences. Vocal fry can be a physical issue or a learned habit. Listeners often find it annoying and, particularly in young women, it can be unattractive and make the speaker seem immature and unprofessional.

T-glottalization. One of my personal pet peeves, this is when the sound of the letter T is pronounced as a glottal stop in the middle of a word. It’s almost as though the T is being dropped. For example, the word beaten sounds like bee-in and important sounds like impor-ant. It makes the speaker sound lazy, and it’s irritating.

Excessive buzzwords and slang. Buzzwords can be vague, pompous, and a substitute for clear ideas. Slang is fine when your audience understands it, but it can create confusion and misunderstandings if they don’t. Overdoing the buzzwords and slang annoys your listeners and makes you less credible.

Incorrect pronunciation. Mispronouncing words can be confusing to your audience and embarrassing to yourself. Related to this is using the wrong word. An occasional mistake is not a big deal (we all do it), but regular incorrect pronunciation can destroy your credibility.

Mumbling. When you speak in a low, confused, indistinct manner, you’re mumbling. When you mumble, you’re sending the message that you don’t want to be heard or even that you’re ashamed of what you’re saying. It’s frustrating for people who are trying to listen to you. Speak up, speak clearly, and believe in what you’re saying.

Repeated words. These are the words that say nothing but manage to creep into every sentence, such as like, you know, anyway, and I mean. Repeating certain words or phrases is a habit that’s easy to acquire but can be hard to break. Work on it.

Filler sounds. Sounds like um, ah, and er are filler sounds that people use to indicate they are thinking. There’s nothing wrong with using them occasionally, but when they infiltrate every sentence, they undermine your message. It’s okay to simply pause when you need to think.

Incoherent sentences. The popular term for rambling, disjointed, confused sentences is word salad. Whatever you want to call it, when your sentences don’t make sense, you can’t communicate. Don’t try to impress. Think about what you want to say, then speak simply and clearly.

In his commentary “Vance Made the Case for Erudition,” Jeffrey A. Tucker wrote this about J.D. Vance’s debate performance:

[Vance] won the evening not only because of the points he had to make. He won because of the clear way that he made them. Even now—and probably especially now—erudition inspires trust and credibility.

Later in his article, Tucker offered some simple ways to upgrade your language skills: Think before you speak, read more, do some speaking exercises. You can read his entire article here; it’s well worth your time.

The ability to communicate is essential on all levels, from personal relationships to civilization as a whole. When we lose that ability, society breaks down. When we recognize the importance of clear, effective communication and make it a priority, we enjoy greater success in every aspect of our lives and make a positive contribution to our world.

Related:
If You’re Writing For or About Gen Z, Speak Their Language
Speak the Same Language as Your Customers and Readers