Revising a speech or presentation to make it less wordy takes practice--you'll get better at it over time. However, there are a few reliable strategies you can use to make wordy, complex sentences simpler and clearer. If you memorize these three strategies and learn how to use them, your speaking skills are sure to improve.
Click each strategy for more explanation.
| Strategy | Explanation |
| Use simpler words. | Why say "utilize" when "use" means the same thing? |
| Use fewer words. | While more words may make your work sound more important, they often make it harder to understand. |
| Use simpler sentences. | Break long, complicated sentences into two or three shorter, simpler sentences that are easier to understand. |
Example 1
Example 2
What do these strategies look like in action? Let's look at some examples.
|
Suppose your presentation about teaching styles includes this sentence: |
|
|
While spoken words are a traditional approach to education, when a teacher draws on the big, green chalkboard at the front of the classroom or presents images using PowerPoint or a projector, she is using a visual teaching tool which is likely to be effective for the majority of her students. |
|
How might you revise this sentence to make the same point more simply and clearly?
A shorter, clearer version of this sentence would use fewer, simpler words: "Teachers should use pictures as well as words to teach."
What do these strategies look like in action? Let's look at some examples.
|
One of your classmates has uploaded a speech that contains this sentence: |
|
|
Let us consider the fact that some individuals believe strongly--and state clearly--that cats are preferable to dogs as a result of their cleanliness and independence--not forgetting, of course, that they are also considered by some to be more attractive than dogs, and that some cat-lovers believe that cats are more intelligent than dogs, thus making them better companions. |
|
How would you suggest that your classmate revise this part of his speech?
You should break this long and rambling sentence into two simpler sentences, such as "Some people believe that cats are cleaner, more attractive, and more independent than dogs." and "Cat lovers also believe that cats are smarter than dogs, and are therefore better companions."
