Filler Words List: What to Cut From a Recording (and What to Keep)

Filler words are sounds or phrases that fill a pause without adding meaning. Not every one should be cut. This list sorts them by how safe they are to remove from a recording, and explains how to decide on the ones in the middle.

Almost always safe to cut

These carry no meaning at all. Removing them never changes what you said.

• um, uh, er, ah, hmm: pure hesitation sounds.
• False starts and repeats, like “I I I think” or “we should, we should probably”, where the first attempt can go.
• Throat-clears and lip smacks that sit in a gap between words.

Cut only after listening

These are ordinary words that become fillers when used as verbal padding. The same word can be essential in the next sentence, so check each one in context.

• like: filler in “it was, like, huge,” a real word in “I like it.”
• you know, I mean, kind of, sort of: often padding, sometimes hedging that matters.
• so, well, right, okay: openers that can be dropped at the start of a sentence but not when they carry meaning.
• actually, basically, literally, honestly: intensifiers that are usually removable.

Usually keep

• Short natural pauses and breaths. They're how listeners process what you just said.
• Fillers that carry tone or personality in a relaxed, conversational show.
• Anything the speaker stressed. Emphasis usually means it wasn't filler.
• Hesitations that signal real thinking in an interview, where the pause is part of the answer.

A quick way to decide

1. Remove the word in your head. Does the sentence mean the same thing?
2. Say the shortened sentence aloud. Does it sound natural, or rushed?
3. Is the word emphasised or part of a phrase (“kind of blue”)? If so, keep it.

If you pass all three, cut it. If you're unsure, leave it. Missing a filler costs a little polish; cutting a real word costs meaning.

Count before you cut

Most people are surprised by which filler is their most frequent one. Paste a transcript into the filler word counter to see your own top offenders. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Knowing that you say “basically” far more than “um” changes what's worth fixing at the source, in your next recording, rather than in the edit.

How to cut them cleanly

A filler removed badly is worse than a filler left in. Three rules keep the edit invisible:

• Pad the cut by 100–250 ms so you don't clip the surrounding consonants.
• Crossfade the join over about 15–30 ms to avoid a click.
• Leave a short pause where the filler was if the sentence otherwise sounds hurried.

The full walkthrough is in how to remove um from audio, and the technique for smooth joins is covered in cutting silence without a choppy sound.

Other languages

Fillers differ by language, and mixed-language speech has its own set. English-only tools miss the rest. If you speak Hinglish, see the Hinglish filler words list. To remove them from audio on Android, use NoiseZero.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common filler words?

In English they are “um” and “uh”, followed by “like,” “you know,” “so,” “actually” and “basically.”

Should I remove all filler words?

No. Remove the pure hesitation sounds and review the rest. A few natural fillers make speech sound human.

Is “like” always a filler word?

No. It's a filler when it's verbal padding, and a real word when it means “enjoy” or “similar to.” That's why it needs a human check.

How do I stop saying filler words?

Count them first, then practise pausing silently instead. A short silence reads as confidence, and it's far easier to edit than a filler.