I used to work with someone who punctuated every other sentence with “like” and “you know what I mean?”

She was brilliant at her job, but I watched people dismiss her ideas before she’d even finished speaking.

The way we communicate shapes how others perceive our intelligence, whether we like it or not. Research shows that linguistic markers significantly influence judgments about a speaker’s competence and credibility.

I’m not saying this is fair or right. But understanding which phrases undermine your message can help you communicate more effectively, especially in professional settings where first impressions matter.

Here are ten common expressions that quietly signal lower intelligence to listeners.

1. “Like” as a filler word

This one’s everywhere, and I’ll admit I catch myself doing it too.

Using “like” as verbal padding between thoughts makes you sound uncertain and unpolished. “I was, like, really surprised by the results” versus “I was genuinely surprised by the results” sends two completely different messages about your confidence level.

The occasional “like” won’t destroy your credibility. But when it appears multiple times per sentence, listeners start focusing on the filler rather than your actual point.

Try pausing instead. Silence feels awkward at first, but it conveys thoughtfulness rather than verbal scrambling.

2. “I could care less”

This phrase is literally the opposite of what people mean to say.

If you could care less, that means you do care at least somewhat. The correct expression is “I couldn’t care less,” meaning your care level is already at zero with no room to decrease.

I’ve heard this mistake so often that it’s almost become accepted, but sharp listeners still notice. And once they catch that logical inconsistency, they start questioning whether you think through what you’re saying.

3. “For all intensive purposes”

The actual phrase is “for all intents and purposes.”

This is what linguists call an eggcorn, where people mishear a phrase and replace it with similar-sounding words that seem to make sense. But “intensive purposes” isn’t a thing.

When I was raising my son, I made sure to read aloud with him regularly so he’d internalize correct phrases. Hearing language used properly builds a foundation that prevents these kinds of mix-ups.

4. “Irregardless”

This isn’t a word, despite how often people use it.

The correct term is either “regardless” or “irrespective.” Adding that “ir” prefix creates a double negative that cancels itself out, leaving you with linguistic nonsense.

These types of errors signal that someone learned language primarily through casual conversation rather than reading. That’s not inherently bad, but it does affect how educated audiences perceive you.

5. “Between you and I”

This one trips people up because they’re trying to sound formal and educated.

The grammatically correct phrase is “between you and me.” After prepositions like “between,” you use object pronouns, not subject pronouns.

Here’s the trick: remove the other person from the sentence and see if it still sounds right. You’d never say “between I,” so “between you and I” is equally wrong.

People often overcorrect here because they’ve been told not to say “me and John went to the store.” But overcorrecting in the wrong direction makes you sound less intelligent, not more.

6. “I seen” instead of “I saw”

This grammatical error immediately flags regional or educational background.

“Seen” requires a helping verb. “I have seen” or “I had seen” work perfectly. But “I seen it yesterday” is nonstandard English that most professional environments will judge.

Dialect features like this can trigger unconscious bias about intelligence and competence, even though they’re simply different linguistic patterns rather than errors.

Fair? Absolutely not. But awareness helps you code-switch when the situation calls for it.

7. “At this point in time”

Why use seven syllables when one will do?

“Now” means exactly the same thing as “at this point in time,” but it sounds cleaner and more confident. Unnecessarily complicated phrases make you sound like you’re padding your speech to seem more important.

The truth is, people who are genuinely confident in their intelligence use simple, direct language. They don’t need verbal decoration.

I’ve made my share of mistakes with overcomplicating things, so I’m right here with you. But I’ve learned that clear beats clever every single time.

8. “Should of” instead of “should have”

This error stems from how we pronounce the contraction “should’ve.”

When spoken, “should’ve” sounds almost identical to “should of,” which leads people to write it incorrectly. But “should of” makes no grammatical sense whatsoever.

The same applies to “could of,” “would of,” and “must of.” They’re all wrong, and they all signal that you learned language primarily by ear rather than through reading.

9. “Literally” for emphasis

Using “literally” when you mean “figuratively” has become so common that dictionaries now acknowledge the informal usage.

But that doesn’t mean careful listeners won’t judge you for it.

When you say “I literally died laughing,” everyone knows you didn’t actually die. So why say literally?

Save “literally” for when you actually mean something happened in reality, not for emphasis. Your words will carry more weight.

10. “You know what I mean?”

Ending statements with this phrase sounds like you’re seeking validation.

It signals insecurity about whether your explanation was clear enough. And when you use it repeatedly, it becomes verbal tic that undermines everything you say.

Confident speakers make their point and stop. They trust that if something isn’t clear, the listener will ask for clarification.

Before we wrap up, let’s look at one more angle: why does any of this actually matter? After all, language evolves, and what’s considered “correct” changes over time.

The reason these phrases matter isn’t about linguistic purity. They matter because communication is about being understood and respected.

When people make snap judgments about your intelligence based on how you speak, it affects your opportunities, your relationships, and how seriously others take your ideas.

Conclusion

I’m learning as I go, just like you.

Breaking verbal habits takes conscious effort and time. But the payoff is worth it.

Start by picking just one or two phrases from this list that you know you use. Pay attention when they’re about to come out of your mouth, and replace them with clearer alternatives.

You might feel awkward at first. That’s normal when you’re changing ingrained patterns.

The goal isn’t to sound like someone you’re not. The goal is to make sure your intelligence shines through in how you communicate, so people focus on your ideas rather than getting distracted by linguistic stumbles that don’t reflect who you really are.