Filler Word Remover

Frequently asked questions

How do I remove filler words from a transcript?

Paste the transcript into Raw text. The Cleaned text box below it updates on every keystroke, so there is no button to press. Check the count under it (for example "12 removed"), tick Show removed words if you want to see each cut struck through, then press Copy to clipboard. Transcripts of up to 100,000 characters are accepted.

Which filler words does it remove?

Out of the box it removes um, uh, uhm, er, erm, ah, hmm, like, you know, I mean, basically and literally. A second group, Off by default, holds actually, sort of, kind of, I guess, or something and or whatever, which you can switch on in the Dictionary. Each word is a chip: select it to turn it on or off.

Will it delete the word like when it is not a filler?

Yes, while like is switched on. The tool removes words by list, not by meaning, so "I like pizza" loses its verb. If your text uses like correctly, open the Dictionary and select like to turn it off. The choice is remembered on your device, and the chip shows how many times each word was removed so you can see which ones are doing damage.

Can I remove filler words from audio or video?

No. This works on text only: it does not listen to or edit audio or video files. If you already have a transcript of the recording, paste it here to get a clean written version. To cut the words out of the sound itself you need an audio or video editor.

Does it fix the punctuation and capital letters after removing a word?

Yes, and that is the point. "So, um, I think" becomes "So, I think", "Um, I think so." becomes "I think so." with the I already capitalised, and "I um, think" becomes "I think". A filler at the end of a sentence leaves the full stop behind, a filler that was a sentence on its own takes its full stop with it, and empty quotation marks left behind are removed.

Can I clean up a Zoom, YouTube or podcast transcript?

Yes. Copy the transcript text from wherever you read it and paste it into Raw text. Line breaks, indentation, timestamps such as 00:12 and speaker labels are left exactly as they were; only the spacing next to a removed word changes. Auto-generated transcripts often spell fillers inconsistently, so check the result once with Show removed words.

Can I add my own filler words or phrases?

Yes. Under Your own words in the Dictionary, type a word or phrase into Add a word or phrase and press Add. It appears as a chip you can switch off again or delete with its X. Multi-word phrases work, and matching ignores capital letters.

Are my transcript and settings uploaded or saved?

No. The text is cleaned in your browser and is never sent anywhere or stored. The only thing kept is your Dictionary choices (which words are on, and your own words), saved on this device so they are there next time.

Why remove filler words from a transcript?

Spoken language is full of um, uh and you know that read as clutter on the page. Removing them makes quotes, show notes, subtitles, speeches and interview write-ups shorter and easier to read without changing what was said. Keep them when you need a verbatim record, such as legal or research transcripts.