Men say, “uh,” and women prefer, “um,” according to a recent study of conversational filler words.
It seems that, in many cases, “uh” is used by men to prevent others from speaking, while “um” shows that a woman might be listening or thinking.
This is in keeping with the gender contrasts explored most unabashedly in Anton LaVey’s The Satanic Witch.
So if an outwardly macho man says “um,” that could be your secret clue that he’s hiding a more sensitive side.
That’s what we call, uh, Lesser Magic.
—Warlock M. Mandrake
