The Importance of ‘Huh’ and ‘Um’ in Building Better Interactions

“Um…” — Everyone at some point

It turns out that interjections are important helpers in communication. Traditionally overlooked, these simple verbal cues help move conversations along. That said, overusing interjections can be distracting to larger groups. As with anything, the idea is to have a balanced approach to speaking, coupled with an awareness of your audience.

Interjections are the words that come between sentences, and they’ve traditionally been ignored by linguists and speech experts. Think of the “huh”s and “mmhm”s of the world. Studies point to these as words that help us talk, think, and express quick social cues to each other¹. Think back to a time when your friend is talking to quickly and you respond with “huh?” to slow them down. As it turns out, these kinds of cues are universal. In a survey of 31 languages, all of them used a short, neutral syllable similar to “huh?” as a repair signal². A repair initiator is used when someone has not clearly heard what someone else just said.

Even though interjections are important, it’s just as critical not to overuse them. Bombarding people with “um”s can be distracting, which is why most public speakers try to avoid them³. It’s all about the balance. Don’t sweat interjections when speaking one-on-one or with friends and family. Conversely, be aware of your enunciation and try to silently pause instead of using interjections when addressing a crowd⁴. This rule carries over to work meetings (both in-person and virtual) as well. Reflect on your communication style and work on improvements.

Action: Be aware of your use of interjections. Are you over using them in public speaking or meetings?

Further Reading:

1. Interjections at the Heart of Language
2. Is “Huh?” a Universal Word? Conversational Infrastructure and the Convergent Evolution of Linguistic Items
3. Tips on Public Speaking: Eliminating the Dreaded “Um”
4. Speaking to Diverse Audiences