: How do you decide where to place a filler? Examples: "I've always been interested in marine biology, as far as I can remember. "As far as I can remember, I've always been interested

Vote Up Vote Down

Filler is just like metadiscourse. Don't use them, just get straight to your point.

(0)

Vote Up Vote Down

You (usually) should put the thing first that you want to emphasize. But speech can be different, since it is also characterization.

A hesitant or unsure character might habitually tack qualifiers to the ends of his statements.

"A dog is a mammal, I think."

"People should be nice to children, I suppose."

"If you take one step closer I'll shoot you -- and don't think I won't, because I will. I'll shoot you; I'm not kidding."

A very logical person might habitually preface his statements with qualifiers.

"According to folklore, Santa lives at the North Pole."

"Most societies would say your mother is worthy of respect."

"Considering your past betrayals, I'll slit your throat if you even
twitch."

And, of course, a muddle-headed (or brilliant) person will habitually have qualifiers all over his statements.

It has been said, perhaps with some overstatement, that love -- that
is, "romantic love" -- conquers all.

I know he's lying, because he said he petted a penguin at the North
Pole, and penguins live only at the South Pole -- or, more properly,
in the southern reaches of the southern hemisphere.

I'm sure everyone would agree that Aunt Betty, God rest her soul, was
the best seamstress in the northwest suburbs of Dubuque, or at least
one of the top five still living as of three days ago.

(0)

Vote Up Vote Down

Think about what fillers are used for. They can be habitual. For example, some people start every utterance with 'well'. Mostly, they are used to give the person a little bit more time to think. Work out when your character most needs that time (at the beginning because they don't know what to say or half way through because they don't know what to say next) and then place them there.

One thing to be careful of: Don't overuse them. Remember you are trying to represent real life, not copy it exactly.

(0)