How to Set the Style for a Speech

How you say something can be just as important as what you say.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Blazers
• Blouses
• Dress Socks
• Handkerchiefs
• Hosiery
• Men's Dress Belts
• Men's Dress Shirts
• Men's Suits
• Mens' Dress Pants
• Oxford Shoes
• Polo Shirts
• Silk Ties
• Sweaters
• Women's Belts
• Women's Dress Pants
• Women's Suits
• Laser Pointers
• Index Cards
• Spiral Notebooks

1. Assess the kinds of people you'll be addressing. Factors such as age, gender, political affiliation, religious beliefs and interests should affect the type of language you use.

2. Choose words that sound important without actually saying anything. Good examples include "urgent," "critical," "hot," "crucial" and "fascinating."

3. Use commanding language to express authority. For example, instead of saying "I hope you will ...," say "I recommend you ..."

4. Address the audience in the second person ("you") to make the audience a part of your presentation.

5. Use the jargon of the people you'll be addressing to establish a bond, if appropriate. For example, if addressing a group of computer programmers, use technical language.

6. Keep your language simple and concise by avoiding complicated sentences and big words. This will help your audience better understand your speech.

7. Hold the audience's attention by keeping your language action-oriented. Use specific nouns and use verbs in the active voice. For example, instead of saying "The report was written by Mike," say "Mike wrote the market analysis."

Tips & Warnings

• Jokes are a good way to liven up your speech, but make sure they're appropriate for your topic and audience.

• Using the jargon of a group other than the one you're addressing can alienate you from your audience. Use exclusive language (language that will be fully understood only by a specific group of people) with caution.