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Whereas readers who fail to understand something can reread a passage or pause to look up an unfamiliar word, listeners have only one chance to get the message. Speeches should therefore be prepared for the ear, using familiar words, easy-to-follow sentences, repetition, and a direct form of address.
Strive for Simplicity
When selecting between two synonyms, choose the simpler term. Try to use fewer rather than more words, and shorter, rather than longer sentences. Translate jargon—the specialized, “insider” language of a given profession—into commonly understood terms. As speechwriter Peggy Noonan notes in her book Simply Speaking:
Good hard simple words with good hard clear meanings are good things to use when you speak. They are like pickets in a fence, slim and unimpressive on their own but sturdy and effective when strung together.2
Make Frequent Use of Repetition
Good speeches, even very brief ones, often repeat key words and phrases. Repetition adds emphasis to important ideas, helps listeners follow your logic, and imbues language with rhythm and drama.
Experiment with Phrases and Sentence Fragments
To make your speech come alive, experiment with using phrases and sentence fragments in place of full sentences. This speaker, a physician, demonstrates how they can add punch to a speech: “I’m just a simple bone-and-joint guy. I can set your broken bones. Take away your bunions. Even give you a new hip. But I don’t mess around with the stuff between the ears. . . . That’s another specialty.”3
Use Personal Pronouns
The direct form of address, using personal pronouns such as we, us, I, and you, draws the audience into the message and makes them feel recognized. Note how the following speaker uses personal pronouns to encourage involvement in his message:
My talk today is about you. Each one of you personally. I know you hear many presentations. For the most part, they tend to be directed mostly to others with very little for you. My presentation today is different; the topic and the information will be important to every one of you. . .. I’m going to show and tell each of you how to become a verbal visionary.4
Following are some ways you can incorporate personal pronouns into your speeches:
“I am indebted to the ideas of . . .”
“Those of us who have lived during a world war . . .”
“To me, the truly great lessons . . .”
“Some of you will recall . . .”