They taint our word’s sincerity and meaning and they often leave us standing less than intelligent. They weave their way through speech and leave a path of destruction in their wake. Their tricky ways can often lead a good conversation astray, or even halt it completely. They’re conversation killers; words and phrases that can ruin any good chat.
Phrases like “Oh you know,” “nothing much,” and “whatever” are overused and completely unnecessary in conversations. When someone asks you “What’s up?”, why on earth would you reply “Oh you know.”? No, they don’t know, that’s why they just asked you. When you answer “nothing much”, you deprive yourself of a conversation and an opportunity to make a connection with the person you’re talking with.
“I’m just saying” that maybe it’s a good idea to take the time to say something sincere every once and awhile to make it appear like you actually care about talking with someone.
“I mean really,” if Darren Criss dropped down from heaven above, took off his fabulous pink Wayfarers, and said “Hey Cora, what’s up?” do you honestly think I’d say “Eh, nothing much?” No. I’d say, “Hey Darren, I’ve been pretty busy lately with spring play and newspaper, but life’s been great. I’m sure my life doesn’t compare to how busy yours has gotten in the past few months. What made you drop in to see me? …Oh, you wrote a song for me? …And you wanted to sing it to me? …Well aren’t you the sweetest!”
Really, there’s just “no need” for all this conversational fluff. Get to the point. Quit saying “like” every other word and tell someone about your day rather than answering a “What’s up?” with “The ceiling.”