When to use "You know" in speaking?

[Coolrus]

could someone please tell me when to use the expression "you know" in speaking?

Thanks.

[Mister Micawber]

As little as possible. It is a pause, a place-marker, which can be quite irritating to the listener when it is overdone.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[HamburgEnglish]

"you know" is a way of confirming that the person understands ... and as Mr Micawber says; can be quite irritating if used to much.

Others are

"know what I mean"?
"you see"?

[Alan]

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Hi Coolrus,

For the record I did send a message to you yesterday morning on this topic, which seems to have disappeared, along these lines:

This expression is really an example of redundant speech that has little meaning and is often used when people don't know what they are going to say next. If it is repeated several times, it can be very annoying for the other person you are talking to.

I could say that sentence again with 'you knows' added in:

This expression, you know is really an example,you know of redundant speech that has, you know little meaning and is often, you know used when people don't know, you know what they are going, you know to say next. If it is repeated, you know several times, it can, you know be very annoying for the other person, you know you are talking to.

See what I mean?

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[HamburgEnglish]

Or <smile>

This expression is really an example of redundant speech you know, that has little meaning and is often used when people don't know what they are going to say next you know. If it is repeated several times you know, it can be very annoying for the other person you are talking to you know.

Dare I say it???? ...... go on do it ..... ok ok ... um .... YOU KNOW !!!

[Alan]

?????

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[HamburgEnglish]

Sometimes it is better to not be understood Alan <smile>