When, why, how did the word “like” become inserted so frequently into the spoken English language?
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I read somewhere that it stems from “likely” as in, “He was likely embarrassed”. It seems plausible and helps me forgive it when my teenage daughters and their friends are like, using it all the time.
“I mean” is the worst filler word(s). It’s especially grating when someone actually types it. If a post starts with “I mean” I immediately downvote it and move on. Anyone who types like that can’t have anything meaningful to say.
I understand the idea of the word as a filler, and that it has a long history, but it has become a crutch. I once counted a writer using the word like 8x in one sentence on a client call. There wasn’t enough cringe in the world. I’m working hard to make sure I don’t use it, which makes me especially alert when others do, primarily in podcasts. I can tell in the first three minutes if I’m going to be able to listen, because if they’ve already used the word like 10 times I’m not gonna get through the show. To me, it has becomes synonymous with being a thoughtless speaker who isn’t paying attention while they speak. Everyone uses it once in a while, but it’s the excessive use that kills me.
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