Er is not really a word with a meaning. It is the sound many speakers — especially in British English — make while they hunt for the next thing to say: a little hold in the voice when the sentence has not arrived yet. On the page it shows a pause, a search, a bit of uncertainty, not a fact about the world.

Er 這個詞 is not really a word with a meaning其實不是一個有意義的詞。It is the sound many speakers它是很多說話者——especially in British English尤其是英式英文的說話者——make while they hunt for the next thing to say在找下一句話時發出的聲音：a little hold in the voice when the sentence has not arrived yet是句子還沒想出來時聲音上的一個小停頓。On the page寫在紙上時 it shows a pause, a search, a bit of uncertainty它表示停頓、搜尋、有點不確定，not a fact about the world而不是在陳述一個關於世界的事實。

American writing often puts uh for the same job, and um is a cousin of both. You will see it in dialogue more than in careful essays.

American writing often puts uh for the same job美式寫法常用 uh 來做同樣的事，and um is a cousin of both而 um 是這兩者的近親。You will see it in dialogue more than in careful essays你會在對話裡看到它，多過在正式文章裡。

People of all ages do it; it is not slang, just speech with the seams showing. Though actually, if you fill every gap with er, listeners may think you are unsure, even when you do know.

People of all ages do it各年齡層的人都會這樣講；it is not slang它不是俚語，just speech with the seams showing只是說話時露出接縫的樣子。Though actually不過事實上 if you fill every gap with er如果你每個空檔都用 er 填滿，listeners may think you are unsure聽者可能會覺得你不確定，even when you do know就算你其實知道答案。