As parents, we’re all English teachers. Our kids learn the sound and rhythm of language from day one, and we enhance it – mostly unknowingly – every day since. I consider part of my motherly job description to be helping kids clean up their language. I’m not talking about swearing or potty talk, here.  I’m talking about Like and the like.

School is a breeding ground for sloppy language and “likes.” Besides learning life skills such as how to perform impressive armpit farts and burp the alphabet backwards, my son came home at first with a deluge of “likes” in his speech. If you’re concerned about how much “like” is creeping into your speech or your family’s, here’s a guide to banishing it.

The main trouble with “like” is that it’s overdone and unspecific. When trying to banish “like” seek out specific words you could use as substitutes. Like is lazy language. What word can you use that will convey a more specific meaning? Make it a game. What word is “like” trying to stand in for? How many times are you saying “like” in a conversation?

Substitute the right word

Like = “thinking”              “I was, like, should I go?”

Like = “about” or “approximately”     “The cliff was, like, 20 ft. high.”

Like = “said” (or “answered” “yelled” etc.)      “She was, like, ‘Where did everyone go?'”

Like = “for example”    “He was scared of spiders, like a really tiny one would still scare him.”

Like = “uh – um – er”    No need to substitute here.  “Like” is just a common filler.  Go ahead and say what you mean.  Ex: He was, like, so glad to be, like, home.

Like = “similar”    “This tastes like grape juice.”      This is a fine use of “like,”  but if you’re trying to kick the “like” habit, try using an alternate word for now.

Like = “like”    “I like you.”  Say this as much as possible!

How much does “like” creep into your daily speech?  Have you ever tried to banish a speech habit?  What worked?