Business News
Stop Speaking Like Uneducated Idiots
It's time to overhaul your embarrassing speech
Written by: Paul Bloodsworth
September 2, 2025
[10 minute read]
INTRODUCTION
Let’s get real—my speech used to be a total mess. Growing up in the South, I sounded like a hillbilly kid on my mom’s bulky ‘80s camcorder, hunting Easter eggs in my grandma’s backyard. When I heard that VHS tape at six years old, it hit me hard: “Man, I sound like I grew up in a swamp.” My high school salutatorian speech in 2000, aired on live TV? A complete disaster. I sounded unpolished, and I’d rather lose that tape than watch it again.
Here’s the truth: we all mess up our speech, whether you’re from the South, a city, or anywhere else. Southern drawls, Yankee slang, urban lingo—it doesn’t matter. Your voice tells the world who you are, and if you sound like you don’t care, people will assume you don’t. This article is a wake-up call to fix your speech, sound professional, and show you’re serious about your image. I’m still working on my own voice, so let’s dive into why your speech needs work and how to make it shine.
Have you ever recorded yourself so you can hear what you sound like to other people?
Watch this video to learn how I overcame my southern, hillbilly dialect.
Also, we discuss many of the problematic speech issues that have become pervasive among many people today.
Why Your Speech Matters
You might think, “Why care about how I talk? People shouldn’t judge.” Get real—judging is human nature. We evaluate each other by clothes, cars, homes, and yes, speech. It’s not harsh; it’s how we decide who fits in our world.
Your voice is a megaphone for your intelligence, sophistication, and professionalism. Sound like you skipped English class?
Good luck in a boardroom. A 2023 Penn State study shows our brains link poor speech—think double negatives or “ain’t”—to lower intelligence, no matter your background. I didn’t design our brains, but they’re wired to judge.
Want to sound like you belong in a suit, not a clown outfit? Your speech is your chance to prove it.
My Cringe-Worthy Speech Struggles
I’m no exception—my speech was a mess. At six, that camcorder exposed a mini-hillbilly me, mumbling like I was raised in a barn. My salutatorian speech at 17, broadcast on May 20, 2000? A total cringe-fest. Thick Southern accent, skipped syllables, zero polish—I sounded like I didn’t care. Those moments stuck with me, showing my speech didn’t match who I wanted to be: a professional, not a stereotype.
Here’s the honest truth: I still slip up, and I’m working hard to fix it. If a salutatorian can sound uneducated, so can you. Time to own it and improve.
"I cannot even replay the VHS tapes from my past because I cannot fathom to hear the old "hillbilly-speaking" me...
My speech did not match the person I wanted to be."
Speech Comes from Your Roots
Your speech reflects your environment—family, friends, and culture. Southerners like me say “pin” for “pen”; Yankees slur “probly”; urban “hood” culture uses “gimme” or “dat.”
From Cockneys in East London to Jamaican Patois speakers, every group has unique habits. The problem? These quirks can make you sound unpolished.
Kids with uneducated parents inherit sloppy speech, stuck in a cycle until someone says, “I don’t want to sound ignorant.” Without effort, you’ll mimic your surroundings forever.
Want to sound refined? Choose to break free and do the work.
Common Speech Mistakes That Hurt Your Image
We all make speech errors that scream “unprofessional.” These aren’t just Southern issues—they’re everywhere. If these hit a nerve, you might be guilty.
“Good” Instead of “Well”
Saying “I don’t feel good” when sick is sloppy and wrong. “Feel” needs an adverb: “I don’t feel well.” In my house, we ditch “good” for vague descriptions—my kids say “amazing,” “terrific,” or “excellent” to build their vocabulary. Sound sharp, not lazy.
“Gonna” Instead of “Going To”
I’m guilty here—watch my @go-excel videos, and you’ll hear “I’m gonna talk about sales.” It’s lazy. “Going to” has three clear syllables; “gonna” is a sloppy shortcut, like “probly” for “probably.” I’m still fighting to drop this habit, and it’s tough.
“Fixin’ Ta” or “Fitna”
This Southern phrase—“I’m fixin’ ta go”—is a casual disaster. Even “fixing to” is too informal for professional settings. It rolls off the tongue, but it says, “I don’t care about sounding smart.” Southerners like me struggle to kick this one.
“Bro” or “Bruh”
Using “bro” in professional settings is a disaster. Adults saying it sound like low-level amateurs, not experts. It’s banned in my house—pure cringe. Imagine pitching a client with “Hey, bro, sign here.” Instant credibility killer.
“You Know What I’m Sayin’?”
This filler phrase adds nothing but noise. Common in casual talk, especially urban settings, it makes you sound like you’re fishing for agreement. Pros don’t need validation—cut it out.
“Gimme” and “Dat”
“Gimme” for “give me” and “dat” for “that” (swapping “th” for “d”) are articulation slip-ups. A 2023 article, “Dis, Dat, and Dem,” tries to defend “dat” in African American English, but I disagree—it doesn’t fly in professional contexts. I slip on “gimme” too—lazy mouth, lazy mind.
“Ain’t”
This isn’t a word, no matter what dictionaries say. A 2023 Grammarly article advises against it in formal settings, and I agree—it’s a shortcut to sounding uneducated. It’s banned in my house for a reason.
“On” vs. “Own”
Southerners, like my family, say “own” for “on,” as in, “I set my wine glass own the table that I own.” Nope. The preposition is “on,” pronounced “ahn,” not “own.” Try it: “I set my wine glass on the table that I own.” We argue about this at every family gathering.
“Axe” for “Ask”
This is just wrong. “Axe” is a tool, not a verb. Saying “I’m gonna axe a question” kills your professional vibe. No excuses—articulate “ask” correctly.
Vowel Mix-Ups: “Pen” vs. “Pin,” and “Ten” vs. “Tin”
Southerners, including my Georgia relatives, mix “e” and “i” sounds, calling an ink pen a “pin” and ten “tin.” Show them a pen and a safety pin—they’ll say “pin” for both. The short “e” sound disappears, and it’s taken me years to fix this. Vowel mispronunciation makes you sound careless, no matter your roots.
Understanding Enunciation and Articulation
To fix your speech, know the difference between enunciation and articulation.
Enunciation is mental—knowing how a syllable should sound, like pronouncing “pro-ba-bly” fully, not “probly.”
Articulation is physical—using your lips, tongue, jaw, and vocal cords to form sounds correctly. For example, saying “probly” is an enunciation issue; you’re mentally skipping a syllable. Saying “axe” for “ask” or “pin” for “pen” is articulation—your mouth isn’t shaping the right sounds.
Get your brain and body aligned, and you’ll sound polished.
Why We Sound Unpolished
(And Why It Matters)
Here’s the irony: I gave a salutatorian speech—second in my class—yet sounded completely uneducated. Why? I didn’t bother to fix my speech.
Humans are meant to grow, refine, and improve. Speech is a key part of that. Our brains, per the 2023 Penn State study, link sloppy speech to lower class or intelligence, even if we don’t notice errors like double negatives.
Ever heard someone enunciate every syllable and articulate so clearly you thought, “Wow, they’re classy”? That’s the goal. Poor speech—“gonna,” “ain’t,” “axe”—holds you back. It’s not about your accent; it’s about sounding like you care.
How to Clean Up Your Speech
Fixing your speech starts with awareness.
Ask, “What do I sound like to others?” Record yourself for a minute—you’ll cringe at “gonna,” “probly,” or “I don’t feel good.” I did, and it was a wake-up call.
Here’s how to improve:
Slow Down: Pause, say every syllable, and shape every sound. Try “go-ing to,” not “gonna”; “pro-ba-bly,” not “probly”; “pen,” not “pin.”
Correct Immediately: Catch “ain’t” or “gimme”? Stop, say “am not” or “give me,” even if it’s awkward.
Build Habits: My kids swap “good” for “well” or “excellent” on the spot. Make precision a reflex, even if you over-enunciate.
Record and Reflect: Your voice sounds brutal on playback, but it’s revealing. Use your phone to spot errors and track improvement.
Admit Your Flaws: I still battle “pin” and “gonna.” Owning your mistakes builds respect and shows you’re serious about growth.
The Power of Professional Speech
Polished speech isn’t about erasing your roots; it’s about proving you care about your career.
Say “I don’t feel well,” “I’m going to,” or “ask” correctly, and people think, “They’ve got it together.”
Use “gonna,” “axe,” or “I ain’t got no money,” and you’re pegged as unprofessional. From New York to Nairobi, sloppy speech hurts your image.
Professionals enunciate fully, articulate clearly, and skip the “bro” nonsense. It’s not just about work—it’s about personal growth.
Refining your speech shows you’re committed to leveling up.
Conclusion
I’ve been told my face is perfect for radio and my voice for silent films—harsh, but fair. I’m still working on my speech, and you can too. It’s tough, humbling, and worth it.
Here's a harsh reality: People don't seem to care. It's not that we cannot fix our speech, it's that we don't.
Your voice is your career’s billboard, showing the world who you are. Stop messing it up with “gonna,” “ain’t,” “axe,” or “pin” for “pen.”
Enunciate every syllable, articulate every sound, and use proper grammar.
Record yourself, slow down, fix your mistakes, and keep going. Share your speech progress (or slip-ups) in the comments—I’m cheering for you.
Let’s excel in business and life, one clear word at a time.