stumbled over my words vs stuttered

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'Stumbled over my words' implies a momentary hesitation or difficulty in speaking smoothly, while 'stuttered' specifically refers to a speech disorder characterized by repeated or prolonged sounds. The choice between the two depends on the context and the level of detail you want to convey.

Last updated: April 06, 2024 • 168 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe a momentary difficulty in speaking smoothly.

"stumbled over my words"

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone hesitates or has difficulty speaking fluently, often due to nervousness or lack of preparation.

Examples:

During the presentation, I stumbled over my words and lost my train of thought.
She was so nervous that she stumbled over her words when talking to her crush.
I tend to stumble over my words when I'm put on the spot.

Show examples from the web [+]

stumbled over my words
12 Then the Lord said to me, You have seen well: for I keep watch over my word to give effect to it.
And paint over my words so you can start writing your own.
When they took me out, I stumbled over the dead barber.
Look who I stumbled over on my way in.
You blamed me for losing the game... because I stumbled over.
She really stumbled over it today.
She must have stumbled over looking for help.
And I said, 'I see a rod of an almond-tree.'Then said Jehovah unto me, 'You have seen well: for I watch over my word to perform it' (Jeremiah 1:5-8,11-12).
12 Then Yahweh said to me, "You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it."
And Jehovah saith unto me, 'Thou hast well seen: for I am watching over My word to do it.'
Let's just say I stumbled over it.
Legs and feet show you if they jumped or stumbled over obstacles.
So I'm thinking that this guy might've been attacked back there, and then stumbled over here.
You bunch of babies, we just stumbled over a pile of gold bullion.
It was pure luck that he stumbled over the whole species thing.
We just stumbled over an example with Congeladora Velazquez s.a. de cv from Mexico showing its frozen seafood for sale to interested buyers.
On summer holiday a drunk American on a tour of the tombs stumbled over and shattered the canopic jar containing Khalid's stomach.
Looks like the thief stumbled over the corpse in the dark and lost it.
Finally, Commissioner, last weekend, I stumbled over another item that we have not been informed about and that might be relevant for this debate.
I duly reported this to Heart, who themselves had just stumbled over the problem: it emerged that one of the power transformers magnetically induced vibrations into the player's housing.

Alternatives:

struggled to articulate my thoughts
had a hard time expressing myself
found it difficult to speak clearly
had trouble finding the right words
fumbled with my speech

This phrase is correct and specifically refers to a speech disorder characterized by repeated or prolonged sounds.

"stuttered"

This term is used to describe a speech disorder where a person repeats or prolongs sounds, syllables, or words, often involuntarily.

Examples:

He stuttered when he was asked to introduce himself.
The child started stuttering after a traumatic event.
People who stutter may benefit from speech therapy.
Her stutter became more pronounced when she was nervous.
Stuttering can impact a person's confidence in social situations.

Show examples from the web [+]

You stuttered and your accent changed.
No, you stuttered a lot, and you phumperered, and you said, "I'm your... you're my daughter, so, of course."
The coach stuttered like a machine gun.
But you don't really know why he stuttered.
Batistì, tell us again of Tagliana who, when he stuttered, went into the ditch.
I got a call from David Franklin, and he said, "Ce-Ce-Cecil," 'cause he stuttered.
You know why the footpath killer stuttered?
Andrew scoville was haven's harbor pilot who stuttered, Caused a ship called the princess to wreck.
Did I ever tell you about the little boy from my neighborhood who stuttered?
He had a month when stuttered, but either rhinitis either bronchitis disappeared.
Speaking of questions, you figured out yet why the footpath killer stuttered?
I would have stammered and stuttered.
He stuttered - it was better.
Boggush stuttered, and had problems with his mucous.
But it is not just talk, you only stuttered.
Turns out the film has to pass through the light in stuttered movements.
My mother wanted to name me Delia but she stuttered.
Whereas those who went to the curate, after having seen and heard his stuttered words, went to the confessionals to kneel.
However, it may also be poking fun at Elkanah Settle, who stuttered as well and was long thought to be the librettist, due to an error in his 1910 biography.
Friar Bagueny stuttered: «You've killed... you've killed that man only to measure how high is the friary from the valley?».

Alternatives:

had a speech impediment
struggled with speech fluency
experienced speech difficulties
had trouble speaking smoothly
faced challenges in verbal communication

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Humanize AI Content

AI-generated texts or documents (*.docx)
Check for errors and appropriateness
Rephrase to improve flow and style

SUBMIT YOUR AI CONTENT

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

stumbled over my words vs stuttered