Free Filler Word Counter —
Find Every Um, Uh & Like in Your Script
Paste your video transcript or script and get an instant filler word audit. Counts um, uh, like, you know, basically, literally, and 15+ more. See your density score, a word-by-word breakdown, and every filler highlighted in context — so you know exactly what to fix. Free, no account needed.
Your Transcript or Script
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Why Filler Words Hurt Your YouTube Videos
Filler words — um, uh, like, you know, basically, literally — are the verbal equivalent of dead air. Every time one appears in your video, your viewer's attention wavers. Over a 10-minute video, a creator with 5 fillers per minute is delivering 50 small disruptions to the viewer experience. That's 50 moments where an algorithm sees a potential drop-off, a sponsor questions their placement, and a new viewer decides whether to subscribe or leave.
The impact on YouTube retention is real. YouTube's algorithm uses audience retention as one of its primary signals — videos where viewers consistently watch past the 70% mark get recommended more often. Research consistently shows that hesitant, filler-heavy speech signals lack of authority and reduces perceived expertise. For channels in competitive niches (finance, tech, business, health), viewers consciously or subconsciously use delivery quality as a proxy for content quality.
There's also a trust dimension. Creators who cut their fillers come across as more confident, prepared, and worth following. This translates directly to subscribe rates. In a split test, a tutorial with minimal fillers outperformed the same tutorial with frequent fillers by 12% on average view duration — not because the content changed, but because the delivery felt more authoritative.
The good news: filler words are fixable. Awareness is the first step — this tool gives you that. The second step is either scripting more deliberately, practicing specific delivery techniques (strategic pauses instead of verbal fillers), or using a tool like EditBuddy to automatically detect and remove filler moments from your Premiere Pro timeline after recording.
EditBuddy removes silence, cuts retakes, adds animated captions and places B-roll — in one click. Used by 2,000+ YouTubers.
The Most Common Filler Words in YouTube Videos
Not all fillers are equally damaging. Here's what the data shows about the most frequently occurring filler words in YouTube content — and why each one slips into your speech in the first place:
The most common fillers in English. They appear when your brain is searching for the next word. Fixable with pausing rather than filling — a 0.5-second silent pause sounds more confident than "um".
The second most common filler in YouTube content under age 35. Often used as a hedge ("it was like amazing") or to introduce examples ("like, for instance…"). Overuse signals imprecision.
A social filler seeking agreement from the viewer. Common in conversational channels. Easy to cut in editing without losing meaning — the sentence works fine without it 95% of the time.
Often used for emphasis that isn't earned ("I literally just did it"). Dilutes precision and can read as hyperbolic. Replacing these with specific language improves content authority significantly.
A transition filler when moving between points. Fine occasionally, problematic when every paragraph starts with it. Watch for patterns in your filler breakdown above — if "so" dominates, vary your openers.
Hedging phrases that undermine conviction. "I mean, I think it could work" versus "This works." The hedged version sounds tentative. Cut these from educational or authority-building content especially.
Filler Word Counter — Frequently Asked Questions
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