Being too wordy dilutes your message and your presence. Instead of using weak filler words, silence is sometimes better; it lets you pause and think, while letting the audience process what you’re saying.
To build trust, avoid these 11 words and phrases that make people doubt your credibility and respect you less:
1 one”
This is the most common crutch word. It suggests that you are not ready, lack confidence, or don’t know what to say next.
2. “In All Honesty”
People use “in all honesty” or “I’m not going to lie to you” to express sincerity, even though it could be interpreted as the opposite.
The public already knows that your intention is to tell the truth. Repeating it will only make them wonder why you’re trying to assure them of your honesty.
3. “I believe”
This phrase makes you sound hesitant and unsure of what you are saying; This is not a fact, but a thought. If you know you’re presenting a well-researched argument, lead with confidence and conviction.
4. “More or less”
“More or less” is almost impossible to measure. This leaves your listener in limbo as it weakens the impact of your message.
5 “Only Or Simply”
I understand the fear of being bold. But using weak words like “just” understates your message by making your statement less important.
6. “Well”
We’ve all heard this punctuated with phrases: “Well, I thought we could start the session with a series of presentations.”
But, like “uh” and “uh,” it makes you feel less prepared or less confident.
7. “I’m no expert, but”
When you use this sentence, you directly undermine your own knowledge. In an attempt to appear cool and confident, you actually do the opposite.
8. “In My Opinion”
Of course, you want to acknowledge differences of opinion and respect other points of view. But doing too much can make you feel insecure or reluctant to take a firm stand.
9. “I’ll try”
Are you fully committed if you say you will try? Maybe. But this sentence gives you the impression that you are only partially committed, or that you lack the confidence to complete the task at hand.
10. “I’m sorry, but”
When you overuse apologetic expressions, you may come across as weak or too servile.
And if you have to apologize, do it with conviction. Don’t rate it with insincere filler words like “but”.
11. “Did that make sense?”
I’ve seen people say this after trying to explain something, but they felt like they didn’t do a good job. A better phrase would be, “Hope this makes sense.” Give people at least 15-30 seconds to digest, then ask them again if they have any questions.
Christina Helena is a public speaking expert, speaking coach, and TEDx speaker. With over a decade of experience, he has worked with large enterprise clients such as Google, Apple, Facebook and LinkedIn. Follow her on Instagram.
This article was originally published in English by Christina Helena for our sister network CNBC.com. For more on CNBC, head here.