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["Um"-oresque]

I have attended many a presentation, both academic and others, and while there are many things that make my heart sink (and sink) in presentations (e.g., tables of data in about 6 point type, in dozens of rows and columns, projected for about five seconds), the one that sinks it the lowest is a speaker with the "ums," the more ums and pauses per sentence (if what I am hearing really merits that name), the lower it sinks.  And many of these folks are professionals, whose job includes the expectation of public presentation.

Published work is expected to be fully professional (well, there are editors to help), but why should public speakers get away with unpolished and exasperating speech--typos of the spoken word?

I find myself far more fluent while lecturing than when conversing, and I believe that I am a non-ummer...not boasting, but that's the way it is.  Is one born an ummer or non-ummer, I wonder?   Do folks think that "um-ing": a) cannot/can be overcome, b) it's annoying/nothing special, c) incorrigable um-ers should look for other work/be given a pass?  This in relation to the classroom/seminar room.

[anon]

The "ums" seem to happen most among people who haven't really practiced/rehearsed what they want to say prior to the actual presentation.  

I think it's more common among older scholars who are describing results of studies that they've been working with for many years.  They often seem to feel that they know the study and data so well that they don't need to waste time actually putting together a decent presentation.

[an ummer]

I have tried to get rid of the umms - it has proven nearly impossible. I don't do it much in formal presentations at meetings, etc, job talks, but I do umm when lecturing in class. I will keep trying, but I don't hold out much hope on that front. A t least I don't say " umm like" all the time like my students do.

[smartypants]

an ummer wrote:

> I have tried to get rid of the umms - it has proven nearly
> impossible. I don't do it much in formal presentations at
> meetings, etc, job talks, but I do umm when lecturing in class.
> I will keep trying, but I don't hold out much hope on that
> front. A t least I don't say " umm like" all the time like my
> students do.

They way I learned to get rid of the "ums" is by taking a breathe everytime I felt an "Um" coming on.

[smartypants]

Before pedant gets here, that should be breath instead of breathe.

[former um-mer]

When I got cerified to be a sailing instructor, part of the test was presentation skills. (no kidding!)
We had to give a series of talks (5 minute, 15 minute).  One of the graders entire job was to keep track of how many "pointless fillers" (like "um", "you know", "eh", "so", etc.) we used.

Having someone tell you how many times you used one of these fillers is sobering.  I found that it really cured me.  After a few of these talks with someone calling you on your fillers, you start to use them less.

[Thundering Marshmallow]

"like"
"this point in time"
"basically"

[anon]

How about repeating every point you make? You know, saying the same thing again a different way? Repeating every point, because we are apparently a very, very slow audience. Repetition. Yup.

[TOAST (not Melba though)]

In my previous life in the corporate world when I was only 24, I attended some seminar-thing about self-confidence (or some such more-or-less useless thing), the speaker -- a paid, professional speaker -- use "um" about 2 or 3 times per sentence! It annoyed me SO much. I wanted to walk out, but didn't have the chutpah. Plus, if I had left early, I would have missed the evaluation in which I pointed out her(=the speaker's) "ums."

Also, I used to be a member of Toastmasters. They buzz you (it's a real buzzer like on a game show!) if you say "um," "ah," or any other filler. It might seem intimidating or even humiliating or cruel, but really it's not. I highly recommend Toastmasters for those who want to polish their speaking and presentation skills.

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