Whenever I hear the word “basically” on social media or in the classroom, I envision my freshman-year biology teacher shaking his head and adding another tally to the board of filler words he has heard that day. My teacher’s recommendation, like those of many public speaking coaches, was to speak clearly without relying on fillers, which “reek of juvenile insecurity.” While I agreed that maturity is important for a conversation, I couldn’t help but question why a filler word here or there is so demonized. Opponents of filler words fail to acknowledge the merits of verbal pauses to support successful conversations. Though they are traditionally viewed as a nervous tic, filler words are important to ensure fluency in conversation, express emotion, and enhance comprehension overall.

The most common myth about filler words is that they are a result of underconfidence. However, according to Dr. Valerie Friedland, a linguistic professor at the University of Nevada, filler words represent verbal planning and the formation of sophisticated thought. This evidence debunks this myth: rather than representing unpreparedness, filler words represent articulation. Furthermore, filler words are proven to increase comprehension in speaking, according to a study by Scott H. Fraundorf and Duane G. Watson. Thus, filler words should not be reduced to a nervous tic when they have been proven to be a sign of more complex and beneficial conversation.

In addition to representing sophistication, filler words can enhance the flow of a conversation and provide important cues to both speakers and listeners involved. In an article published in the Harvard Business Review, Allison Shapira, a professor at Harvard University, chronicles how conversational speakers often use filler words to continue speaking in a conversation rather than make a nonverbal pause, which may incorrectly indicate that they are done speaking. Filler words play a crucial role in ensuring that all participants in a conversation are heard and can express themselves fully, preventing inappropriate interruptions and facilitating smooth communication.

Filler words also encourage conversational fluidity by expressing emotion and emphasis. An infamous example is the overuse of the word “like” in younger generations, which has become a pet peeve for people across all ages. However, the dreaded “like” has more history than one may think—it was popularized through counterculture poetry in the 1950’s and was used to emphasize certain words and themes in the poems. Teenage girls use the word “like” in the same way as these influential poets— “like” is their way of signifying what is most important in the sentence and directing attention appropriately. The reason that this particular filler word is so demonized goes back to satirized media from the 1980’s, like the song “Valley Girl” by Moon Zappa and the movie “Valley Girl” which inaccurately tie the word “like” to a ditzy valley girl trope. In reality, filler words have been used as far back as professional trial proceedings from the late 18th century, according to linguist Alexandra D’arcy. The word “like” is helpful for emotional emphasis; its misrepresentation in media has contributed to its chastisement.

As well as heightening emotional expression, filler words are often used as a tool for diplomacy. Verbal softeners, like “just” or “simply”, can function as a filler word when used repeatedly to lighten a conversation. Critics of filler words often say that verbal softeners blur conversation and are unclear, however, they can purposefully change the meaning of a sentence to be more euphemistic and positive. For example, there is a stark difference between the sentences “You need to drive me to school” and “You just need to drive me to school.” The “just” softens the sentence and alters the meaning. Verbal softeners are seen as an obstruction of clarity, but really, they are useful in situations when one needs to communicate amicably.

Filler words are misunderstood language tools, and their chastisement is caused by stereotypes that its users are underconfident and inarticulate. Conversely, filler words are proven to be beneficial for productive conversation and undeserving of the criticism they receive. As language tools are meant to support verbal clarity and efficacy, filler words should not be criticized by the debate coaches and biology teachers of the world for playing a vital role in fostering expression.