How to stop saying “umm” when you record yourself
Updated 20 September 2026 · by Viktor, video creator
You say “umm” while you look for the next words, so remove the search: write the script, read it in short lines near the lens, and when you lose the thread, pause silently instead of filling the gap. A pause reads as thinking on camera; a filler reads as hesitation. Anything that still slips through can be retaken a sentence at a time.
Fillers are a symptom, not a habit
People rarely say “umm” while reading a sentence; they say it between sentences, when the next thought has not arrived. A script removes most of them before the camera is even on. Speaking notes — bullet points you improvise from — bring them straight back.
Silence is fine on camera
A half-second of silence looks like a thought; “umm” looks like a stumble. If the words are not there, stop talking and wait. With voice-following scrolling the script stops with you and waits, which removes the pressure to keep making noise while you catch up.
Write for the mouth, not the page
Long clauses force you to hold the end of a sentence in your head while saying its beginning, and that is where fillers appear. Read the script aloud once and cut every sentence you run out of breath in.
Fix the ones that slip through while recording
The usual fix is editing: record, then cut fillers in a video editor, or use a transcript editor that removes them for you. To have fewer to cut, pause and say the sentence again instead of filling — a clean pause is easy to find and cut later.
Questions
Why do I say “umm” so much on camera?
Because you are composing the next sentence while talking. A script removes the composing, and a pause replaces the filler.
Is it better to edit fillers out afterwards?
It works, and tools exist for it, but it adds an editing pass to every video. Fewer fillers in the first place — short lines, silent pauses — means less to cut.
Does speaking slower help?
A little. Short sentences and a script help more.
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