Enriching Education - Speech Habits Across the U.S.

 We were taught to "dot our i's and cross our t's" when writing... but what were the most important speech lessons you learned growing up?

Preply surveyed Americans to determine the language habits Americans are trying to shed. 

Key takeaways

• Residents in Indiana, Colorado, and Nebraska had the most bad habits when speaking.  

• "Um," "so," and "like" are the most common filler words Americans use.

• When it comes to speech habits, Americans were most ashamed of using filler words and their pronunciation of certain words.

• The people who most often correct grammar and pronunciation are romantic partners, friends, and parents. 

• 74% of Americans report bad speech affecting their career.

Take a look at the full report and let me know if you would like to use this data for a story.

Here are some tips on how to improve speech habits.

“Improving language habits can take some time but is certainly possible with practice and heightened awareness.”

“Record yourself speaking so you can listen back to it. If your goal is to enrich your vocabulary, word games, crosswords, and reading can all help provide alternative ways to express an idea.”

Sylvia Johnson, head of methodology at Preply