Mastering these presentation phrases will help to ensure that your message is conveyed clearly and professionally. They’ll also boost your confidence as you prepare to present in English.
Practice using these phrases in your next presentation, and you’ll see how they help you succeed.
If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:
If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.
The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.
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The art of delivering a compelling presentation lies in the finesse of your language skills. It’s about crafting resonating sentences, choosing captivating words, and initiating a dialogue that piques curiosity. One must know how to maneuver through this landscape, from setting the scene with a powerful introduction to concluding with a thought-provoking statement. That’s where this guide comes in. It will give you key presentation sentences, phrases, and words to help elevate your communication skills.
In the realm of presentations, first impressions matter tremendously. Your opening words set the stage for the rest of your discourse, establishing the tone and drawing in your audience. The right choice of phrases can create a compelling introduction that commands attention and sparks interest. Here, we will explore a selection of presentation-starting words and phrases to help you set a strong foundation:
Crafting an engaging opening with the presentation starting words, is akin to opening the first page of a riveting novel. These phrases serve as a doorway, inviting your audience into the fascinating narrative you are about to share.
Now that you have your audience’s attention, the next crucial step is to set the scene. It involves using key phrases to keep your audience engaged, clarify, and effectively communicate your main points. A well-set scene guides the audience through your presentation, helping them understand your narrative and easily follow your arguments. Let’s look at some essential phrases that can help you accomplish it:
These phrases help establish your narrative, maintain audience interest, and structure your arguments. They serve as signposts, guiding your audience through the presentation and facilitating understanding and engagement.
Transitioning between points or sections in your presentation is like steering a ship through water. Smooth navigation keeps your audience aboard, maintaining their interest and comprehension. Seamless transitions contribute to a coherent and compelling narrative, preventing abrupt jumps or confusing shifts in your discourse. The following phrases are powerful tools that can ensure your transitions are smooth and effective:
These phrases connect threads, linking your ideas and ensuring your presentation flows smoothly. They give your audience cues, signaling that you’re moving from one idea or point to the next, making your discourse easy to follow.
The conclusion is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression on your audience. It’s a chance to wrap up your arguments, restate your main points, and leave your audience with a clear and compelling message to ponder. Here are some phrases that can assist you in crafting a memorable conclusion:
These phrases help you consolidate your arguments, summarize your main points, and end on a high note. A well-structured conclusion ensures your audience understands your presentation, its key messages, and its implications.
Apart from structured sentences and transitional phrases, the vocabulary you use can add a touch of sophistication. An expanded lexicon enriches your language and enhances your ability to express complex ideas with clarity and precision. Let’s explore a list of presentation words that can add depth and dimension:
These words add a layer of sophistication to your presentation, conveying your thoughts and ideas more precisely. They expand your expressive capacity and lend an authoritative and professional tone to your speech. By integrating these words into your presentation, you can deliver your message with clarity and depth, engaging your audience more effectively.
In the corporate world, effective communication is the linchpin of success. It’s an art that lies at the heart of all business interactions, from high-stakes meetings to persuasive pitches. And when it comes to delivering such a presentation, the task becomes even more critical. The business English presentation phrases you use, how you present your points, and the overall language command play a significant role in conveying your message effectively.
Presenting in a business setting often involves explaining complex ideas, discussing financial matters, and persuading potential clients or stakeholders. Here, the language must be precise, the tone - professional, and the content - structured. Unlike informal or academic ones, business presentations carry a certain degree of formality and specific jargon that sets them apart. However, business English idioms and expressions can help soften the formality, adding a touch of personality to your language.
Navigating the labyrinth of business English also involves acknowledging the importance of research and planning. A well-researched presentation reflects your dedication, expertise, and credibility. It shows you respect your audience’s time and are prepared to deliver value. It’s not just about memorizing facts and figures; it’s about understanding your topic thoroughly and answering queries convincingly.
Another characteristic of business presentations lies in their persuasive nature. Often, they are geared toward persuading clients, investors, or team members toward a particular course of action. Consequently, using persuasive techniques such as presenting benefits, sharing testimonials, or demonstrating success stories becomes prevalent. You’re not just providing information; you’re trying to influence decisions and drive action.
An essential but often overlooked aspect of business presentations is the importance of a strong opening and closing. The opening is your chance to grab the audience’s attention and make them invested in your talk, so knowing how to start a business presentation is essential. Conversely, the closing is your final shot at reinforcing your message and making a lasting impression.
Finally, business presentations often involve handling criticism or skepticism, especially when proposing new ideas or challenging existing norms. Here, your ability to accept feedback gracefully, address concerns effectively, and maintain your composure can significantly impact the outcome.
Looking to expand your vocabulary for presentations and improve your language skills online ? Promova is here to help! Our platform offers various resources and courses to help learners of all levels master new words and expressions quickly, effectively, and confidently.
With personalized lessons from certified tutors , you can get one-on-one instruction that caters to your specific needs and learning style. Additionally, our app allows you to access interactive exercises, quizzes, and vocabulary lists anytime and anywhere for easy practice on the go. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner looking to fine-tune your language skills – we have got you covered.
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As we conclude, it’s clear that effective presentations in English rely on various linguistic elements. A strong beginning, transitions, and a powerful conclusion, all while using precise vocabulary, are critical. The ability to craft compelling sentences and phrases, set the scene effectively, and transition smoothly between ideas are essential for a successful presentation. And the correct vocabulary can add depth and dimension to your discourse while conveying professionalism.
Body language can significantly impact how your message is perceived. Effective use of gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions can amplify your points, show enthusiasm, and engage the audience. Conversely, negative body language can detract from your message.
Knowing your audience is crucial. It informs the level of detail you need to include, the words and phrases you use, the examples you choose, and even the humor you might incorporate. Tailoring your presentation to your audience’s knowledge and interests can significantly enhance its effectiveness.
Everyone makes mistakes. If you stumble during your presentation, take a moment, compose yourself, and move on. Don’t let a minor error disrupt your flow. Remember, the audience is there to listen to your ideas, not critique your performance.
Indeed, many resources are available if you’re seeking to delve deeper into the world of presentation phrases. The Cambridge Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionary offer many valuable collocations, from simple expressions to sophisticated vocabulary.
Here you will learn at least 37 useful phrases for presentations in English. Improve your business English skills and feel confident when making presentations in English.
Presentation phrases for setting the scene, recapping, ending a presentation in English and more.
Listen to the podcast Speak Better English with Harry or watch it on YouTube at Learn English with Harry .
Hi there, this is teacher Harry, and welcome back to my English lessons where I try to help you to get a better understanding of the English language.
Okay, so what are we going to cover in the lesson today? Well, all of us, myself included, have to make presentations, from time to time to staff or to bosses, or to clients or customers, whoever it may be. And if you’re using English, not as your native language, then it can be a bit of a challenge. You might feel lacking in confidence. You might feel that you’re not up to the other guys.
But you can do it.
So I’m going to give you some useful phrases that you can use in relation to presentations.
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You might just simply say at the presentation particularly if it’s online,
Whatever it might be, you can adjust the words to suit the media and the medium by which you’re presenting to your guests. Staff, colleagues, clients.
And then if we talk about other useful expressions and phrases.
It’s a good idea to spend 30 seconds introducing yourself.
So my name is Harry, I work in this department, I’d like to talk to you today about…
So in those sorts of expressions, you’re setting the scene again, you’re telling them exactly what you’re going to cover. And that’s a really good idea in a presentation because then everybody knows what’s going to be spoken about.
My name is Harry, I work in the marketing department. My presentation today is about a new product. The presentation is probably going to take about 20 minutes. And if you have any questions, then please ask them as we go through the presentation.
Introducing a talk.
Now, if you want to introduce the talk, you could say:
A brief overview of the product, a brief overview of the background, a brief overview of our plans.
So you go step by step by step.
So in any presentation, visuals are really important, and they can help you.
And they can also support you if you’re a little bit lacking in confidence about the presentation itself.
And you perhaps don’t want to be the focus of everything.
So the type of phrases you might use in that context would be something like:
As I said, it helps you, it supports you and enables you to just sort of hide a little bit behind those slides that focus on the screen, not specifically on you.
Finishing off a section.
And when you want to finish off in relation to those sort of aspects, you might just summarise by saying,
So again, helpful information directly in them, how they can get in touch with you after your presentation.
Checking and moving on.
So during the presentation, we want to make sure that the people are listening, but you also don’t want to spend too much time on each particular point.
So you check their understanding so far, and then you move on. So you might say to the people,
So you pinpoint exactly what you want to cover. When you’re going to cover it and then you move on. So you check that they understand it.
I also find in these types of presentations, particularly if they’re a bit longer than a few short slides, that it’s a good idea to do some recapping.
To recap means to go over what you’ve done before. Not a huge amount of detail because you don’t want to bore them by going through everything, but you recap quite quickly.
All of those good, acceptable expressions and words that you can use.
And then when you come to the end of the presentation, you want to sign off, you want to finish them. We can say,
All nice and polite ways of informing people that this is the end.
So there’s somebody out there in the audience who’s asleep, they’ll probably wake up at that point when you say and finally or, in conclusion
Well, hopefully you’ve got something in particular that you can hold onto there. Something that can help you if you’re making presentations in English.
If you have any other queries, come to me, I’m very, very happy to help you. My contact details are www.englishlessonviaskype.com .
And indeed, if you want some help, how to make presentations, if you want some help, how to get through interviews, or you just want general help with your English well, why not try our one-to-one online English lessons .
Thanks for listening. Join me again soon.
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
How to learn English vocabulary easily
English idioms about holidays and travel
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The latest language learning tips, resources, and content from oxford university press., useful phrases for giving a presentation in english.
Giving a presentation in English can be challenging, but with these helpful phrases, you can feel confident and ready to make a good presentation in English.
So how to start a presentation in English? Begin by saying hello and welcoming everyone. You can also thank the audience for being there with you.
The beginning of the presentation is one of the most important parts because you need to make sure your audience is interested from the start.
You could tell a short story, give a fact, or simply tell the audience a little bit about yourself, e.g. ‘ Let me start by telling you a little bit about myself …’
Then, introduce what your presentation is about by giving an opening statement or an overview of your session. For example, ‘Today, I am going to talk to you about …’ or, ‘Today, we’ll be looking at/focusing on …’.
You can also tell the audience, ‘ If you have any questions, please raise your hand and I’ll be happy to answer them’ … or ‘ We’ll have time at the end for questions.’
When you get into the main part of giving your presentation in English, remember that what you’re saying to your audience is new information. Speak slowly, organise your ideas, and make sure your pronunciation is clear. You can learn more about boosting your pronunciation here .
Use expressions to order your ideas and introduce new ones. You can use words and phrases to sequence like, firstly/first of all, secondly, then, next, following this, and lastly/finally.
If you want to introduce the opposite point of view, you can use language like however, on the other hand, contrary to this and then again.
It’s a good idea to link what you are saying back to previous things you have said. This shows you have a well-organised presentation and also helps keep people engaged. For example, ‘as I said previously/at the beginning …’, ‘as you may remember’ and ‘this relates to what I said about ….’
When you are giving a presentation in English, you might want to highlight a particular piece of information or something that’s important. You can use phrases such as ‘Let’s focus on …’, ‘I want to highlight …’, ‘Pay attention to …’, ‘Let’s look at …’, ‘I want to briefly address …’, or ‘Now, let’s discuss ….’ You can use these phrases after your sequencing words to help you with your structure.
You can also highlight information by asking your audience their opinion of what you are saying or having them engage with the presentation in some way. For example, you could ask a question and have the audience raise their hands if they agree, or disagree, or if you want to find out how many of them have experience with the situation you’re discussing. Asking questions is a good way to make sure you still have the audience’s attention after you’ve been speaking for a while.
You can also highlight information on your visuals if you’re using them. Use bright, impactful pictures and colours, and don’t include too much writing on your slides.
At the end of the presentation, you should summarise your talk and remind the audience of the things you have discussed, and the new information you have given them. You can say things like ‘In summary, we have looked at …’, ‘I’d like to finish by …’, and ‘We’re coming to the end of the presentation. We’ve discussed …’.
You can then ask the audience for any questions you haven’t already answered.
What are your experiences of giving a presentation in English? Do you have any other tips to add? Share below!
Billie Jago is an ELT writer and teacher trainer, specialising in digital & assessments. She is the founder of the professional development podcast ELTcpd and co-founder of the digital ELT content agency, otterelt .
Every year we help millions of people around the world to learn English. As a department of the University of Oxford, we further the University’s objective of excellence in education by publishing proven and tested language learning books, eBooks, learning materials, and educational technologies. View all posts by Oxford University Press ELT
before You start your presentation ,try please to mention the time duration . sometimes people should be informed so that we can take a coffe break or cigarettes break in order to make evry one happy with the topics
Here is the tip I would add according to my experience :
end your presentation on a positive note, for example with a funny sentence /image /meme / an inspirational quote, in short something that will make your talk pleasant to remember.
Valentina T.
You need to chill out and show calmness and confidence. You should rehearse your presentation on the stage some time before its previously stated time.
Clear, cogent & commanding. Thanks.
I think to get better respond to presentation you can do some mistakes in it and then explain it the end or in the next presentation. Because if anyone would like to learn something also should show involvement.
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Blog > English Presentation Structure (Introduction, Closing) & useful Phrases
02.21.20 • #powerpoint #presentation #english.
When giving a presentation in english, there are certain guidelines you should follow. Maybe you haven't got a lot of experience presenting - or you would simply like to refresh your already existing knowledge - we're here to teach you the basics about presenting and provide you with a free list of useful phrases and the basic structure you can in your presentation!
The general structure of a presentation is the following:
It is up to you to design these three parts. Using videos or everyday-examples can be a great way to introduce the audience to the topic. The important thing is that you capture the audience's attention from the beginning by making an interesting introduction. The main part is where you present your topic, ideally divided into sections. You can be creative with it - incorporate images, videos, stories or interactive polls . We generally recommend using different kinds of elements, as that makes the presentation more lively. Make sure your main part is well structured, so your audience can follow. In the conclusion, you should give a short summary of the points you made without adding any new information. You can also make an appeal to your audience in the end.
Here you'll find several phrases that you'll need in every presentation. Of course, you should adapt them and use them in a context that is suitable for your setting. The phrases are divided into subcategories so you can find what you're looking for more easily.
In your introduction, you should:
Welcome your audience
Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone!
Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to my presentation about...
Introduce yourself
I am ... (from company ...) and today I would like to introduce you to the topic of ...
My name is ... and I am going to talk about ... today.
Icebreakers (for audience engagement)
Icebreaker polls are an amazing way to engage your audience instantly. They function as a fun and playful element at the beginning, giving you the perfect start you need to give a successful presentation. Click here to read our detailed post about icebreaker polls!
Mention the presentation topic and the reason for giving the presentation
I am grateful to be here today and tell you you about...
I would like to take this opportunity to talk about ...
I am here today to talk to you about ...
The reason why I am here today to talk about ... is ...
The purpose of this presentation is to ...
My goal today is to ...
Hopefully, by the end of the presentation, you will all know more about ...
Give a short overview of the content
To make it as understandable as possible, I divided my presentation into ... parts. In the first part, I will concentrate on ..., the second part will be about ..., ...
First of all, I will give you a short introduction, then we will move on to ...
... and finally, I will give you some insights to ...
Here are a few phrases that you could use during the whole presentation, but especially in the main part.
Engage your audience
In order to raise the audience's attention and improve their engagement, it is extremely important to make contact with them. A great way to do so is by adding interactive elements such as polls. If you would like to know more about this topic, read our article on How To Boost Audience Engagement . You can also use a software like SlideLizard , which allows you to conduct live polls, do Q&A sessions with your audience, share your resources and many more benefits that take your presentation to the next level.
Please raise your hand if you ...
Have you ever thought about ... ?
I would like to do a poll about ...
Please ask any questions as soon as they arrive.
On one hand, … on the other hand…
Comparing … with …, we can see that…
Clearly, … makes more sense than …
Whereas Option A is …, Option B is …
Making new points
Firstly,… Secondly,…
What also has to be mentioned is…
Next, I would like to bring up the topic of…
That being said, now we are going to take a look at…
Let's move on to the next topic.
On the next slide,…
The last thing I would like to mention is…
We made a whole blog post about how to pose questions in your presentation: The Right Way to do a Question Slide .
Talking about images or videos
In this image you can clearly see that ...
We are now going to take a look at a picture/video of ...
I'm going to show you a video by ... about ... now.
I've prepared a video about ...
Talking about statistics and charts
I am now addressing this graph that refers to the results of study XY.
In the graph on this slide, you can see that ...
The average is at ...
This graph clearly shows that the majority ...
According to this graph, the focus should be on ...
What that study tells us for practice is that we should ...
Emphasizing
I would like to emphasize the importance of ...
Moreover, it has to be said that ...
I want to stress the importance of ...
We always have to remember that ...
This is of high significance because ...
That part is especially important because ...
When something goes wrong
I am sorry, but it seems like the projector isn't working.
Could someone please help me with ...?
Is anybody here who knows how to ...?
Could someone give me a hand with ...
I would like to apologize for ...
I apologize for the technical problems, we are going to continue in a minute.
I am sorry for the inconvenience.
In the conclusion, you should...
Sum up the main points
In conclusion I can say that…
To sum up the main points,…
With all mentioned aspects taken into consideration, I can say that…
Make an appeal
So please, in the future, try to be conscious about...
Please take a moment to think about...
I would like to encourage you to...
Thank your audience and say goodbye
It was a pleasure being here today.
Thank you for listening and goodbye.
Thank you for being such a great, engaged audience. Goodbye.
Thank you so much for listening, see you next time.
What is the structure of a presentation?
Your presentations should always have an Introduction, a Main part and a Conclusion.
What is a good way to begin a presentation?
You can start by introducing yourself, giving an overview of your topic, telling a little story or showing the audience an introductory video or image.
What are good phrases to use in English presentations?
There are many phrases that will make your presentation a lot more professional. Our blog post gives you a detailed overview.
About the author.
Pia Lehner-Mittermaier
Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.
Do you want to make your presentations more interactive.
With SlideLizard you can engage your audience with live polls, questions and feedback . Directly within your PowerPoint Presentation. Learn more
for your PowerPoint Presentations
Hybrid event.
When an event consist of both virtual and in-person parts, this is called a hybrid event. This type of event is popular as it combines the benefits of both online and live events.
In live online training, it is sometimes useful to divide the students into small groups for certain exercises, as it would be impossible to have conversations at the same time. Break-out-rooms are used so that people can talk to each other without disturbing the others. When the exercise is over, they are sent back to the main room.
Audience Demographics are the characteristics of listeners like age, gender, cultural backgrounds, group affiliations and educational level. The speaker has to consider all these characteristics when adapting to an audience.
An information presentation is created when no solution is currently available. Facts, data and figures or study results are presented and current processes are described.
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This is a list of phrases to help you make a professional presentation in English.
Good presenters always use language (sometimes single words, sometimes phrases) which shows where they are in their presentation. These ‘signposts’ make it easier for the audience to:
We’ve divided the phrases and sentences into sections which follow the logical progression of a well-balanced presentation.
You can also outline your presentation to give the audience a clear overview of what they can expect:
Get more – the extended e-book version of this presentation language has 10 pages with dozens of examples you can use in your presentation. Speakspeak.com is a free site. Support us by downloading this e-book for just $6* – thanks!
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June 28, 2018 - Gini Beqiri
When delivering presentations it’s important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand how everything links together and why it’s all relevant.
This can be done using speech transitions because these act as signposts to the audience – signalling the relationship between points and ideas. This article explores how to use speech transitions in presentations.
Speech transitions are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.
This makes it easier for the audience to understand your argument and without transitions the audience may be confused as to how one point relates to another and they may think you’re randomly jumping between points.
Transitions can be one word, a phrase or a full sentence – there are many different types, here are a few:
Introduce your topic:
Inform the audience of the structure of your presentation:
Signify to the audience that you will now begin discussing the first main point:
Move from one point to a similar one:
You may have to introduce conflicting ideas – bridging words and phrases are especially good for this:
You may have to refer to something that you’ve already spoken about because, for example, there may have been a break or a fire alarm etc:
This can be also be useful to introduce a new point because adults learn better when new information builds on previously learned information.
You may want to introduce a digression:
You can move your body and your standing location when you transition to another point. The audience find it easier to follow your presentation and movement will increase their interest.
A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:
You need to ensure that the audience get the message by informing them why something is important:
Internal summarising consists of summarising before moving on to the next point. You must inform the audience:
You will have to transition to show relationships between factors:
In a group presentation you must transition to other speakers:
From these examples, you can see how the different sections of the presentations link which makes it easier for the audience to follow and remain engaged.
You can tell personal stories or share the experiences of others to introduce a point. Anecdotes are especially valuable for your introduction and between different sections of the presentation because they engage the audience. Ensure that you plan the stories thoroughly beforehand and that they are not too long.
You can transition through your speech by asking questions and these questions also have the benefit of engaging your audience more. There are three different types of questions:
Direct questions require an answer: “What is the capital of Italy?” These are mentally stimulating for the audience.
Rhetorical questions do not require answers, they are often used to emphasises an idea or point: “Is the Pope catholic?
Loaded questions contain an unjustified assumption made to prompt the audience into providing a particular answer which you can then correct to support your point: You may ask “Why does your wonderful company have such a low incidence of mental health problems?”.
The audience will generally answer that they’re happy. After receiving the answers you could then say “Actually it’s because people are still unwilling and too embarrassed to seek help for mental health issues at work etc.”
If you are going to introduce a visual aid you must prepare the audience with what they’re going to see, for example, you might be leading into a diagram that supports your statement. Also, before you show the visual aid , explain why you’re going to show it, for example, “This graph is a significant piece of evidence supporting X”.
When the graphic is on display get the audience to focus on it:
Explain what the visual is showing:
Visual aids can also be used as transitions and they have the benefit of being stimulating and breaking-up vocal transitions.
You might have a slide with just a picture on it to signify to the audience that you’re moving on to a new point – ensure that this image is relevant to the point. Many speakers like to use cartoons for this purpose but ensure its suitable for your audience.
Always summarise your key points first in the conclusion:
If you have a shorter speech you may choose to end your presentation with one statement:
However, using statements such as “To conclude” may cause the audience to stop listening. It’s better to say:
Requesting the audience to do something at the end of the presentation:
When transitions are used poorly you can annoy and confuse the audience. Avoid:
Speech transitions are useful for unifying and connecting your presentation. The audience are more likely to remain engaged since they’ll be able to follow your points. But remember that it’s important to practice your transitions beforehand and not just the content of your arguments because you risk looking unprofessional and confusing the audience if the presentation does not flow smoothly.
By Status.net Editorial Team on February 27, 2024 — 11 minutes to read
Starting a presentation effectively means capturing your audience’s attention from the very beginning. It’s important because it sets the tone for the entire presentation and establishes your credibility as a speaker.
Your presentation’s beginning sets the stage for everything that follows. So, it’s important to capture your audience’s attention right from the start. Here are some tried-and-true techniques to do just that.
When you start with a story, you tap into the natural human love for narratives. It can be a personal experience, a historical event, or a fictional tale that ties back to your main point.
“Let me tell you a story about…”
Example : “Let me tell you a story about how a small idea in a garage blossomed into the global brand we know today.”
Using a relevant quote can lend authority and thematic flavor to your presentation. Choose a quote that is provocative, enlightening, or humorous to resonate with your audience.
“As [Famous Person] once said…”
Example : “As Steve Jobs once said, ‘Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.'”
Engage your audience directly by opening with a thoughtful question. This encourages them to think and become active participants.
“Have you ever wondered…”
Example : “Have you ever wondered what it would take to reduce your carbon footprint to zero?”
Kick off with a startling statistic that presents a fresh perspective or underscores the importance of your topic.
“Did you know that…”
Example : “Did you know that 90% of the world’s data was generated in the last two years alone?”
Share a brief, relatable incident that highlights the human aspect of your topic. It paves the way for empathy and connection.
“I want to share a quick anecdote…”
Example : “I want to share a quick anecdote about a time I experienced the customer service that went above and beyond what anyone would expect.”
Starting a PowerPoint presentation effectively can captivate your audience and set the tone for your message. The opening phrases you choose are important in establishing rapport and commanding attention. Whether you’re presenting to colleagues, at a conference, or in an academic setting, these phrases will help you begin with confidence and poise:
Connecting with the audience.
When starting a presentation, making a genuine connection with your audience sets the stage for a successful exchange of ideas. Examples:
You present with credibility when you establish your expertise and experience on the subject matter. Here’s what you can say to accomplish that:
Starting your presentation with a clear organizational preview can effectively guide your audience through the content. This section helps you prepare to communicate the roadmap of your presentation.
You should begin by briefly listing the main points you’ll cover. This lets your audience know what to expect and helps them follow along. For example, if you’re presenting on healthy eating, you might say, “Today, I’ll cover the benefits of healthy eating, essential nutrients in your diet, and simple strategies for making healthier choices.”
Your introduction sets the tone for the entire presentation. A way to do this is through a relevant story or anecdote that engages the audience. Suppose you’re talking about innovation; you might start with, “When I was a child, I was fascinated by how simple Legos could build complex structures, which is much like the innovation process.”
Explain the structure of your presentation so that your audience can anticipate how you’ll transition from one section to the next. For instance, if your presentation includes an interactive portion, you might say, “I’ll begin with a 15-minute overview, followed by a hands-on demonstration, and we’ll wrap up with a Q&A session, where you can ask any questions.”
Before you step onto the stage, it’s important that your preparation includes not just content research, but also rigorous practice and strategy for dealing with nerves. This approach ensures you present with confidence and clarity.
Practicing your introduction aloud gives you the opportunity to refine your opening remarks. You might start by greeting the audience and sharing an interesting quote or a surprising statistic related to your topic. For example, if your presentation is about the importance of renewable energy, you could begin with a recent statistic about the growth in solar energy adoption. Record yourself and listen to the playback, focusing on your tone, pace, and clarity.
While you don’t need to memorize your entire presentation word for word, you should know the key points by heart. This includes main arguments, data, and any conclusions you’ll be drawing. You can use techniques such as mnemonics or the method of loci, which means associating each key point with a specific location in your mind, to help remember these details. Having them at your fingertips will make you feel more prepared and confident.
Feeling nervous before a presentation is natural, but you can manage these jitters with a few techniques. Practice deep breathing exercises or mindful meditation to calm your mind before going on stage. You can also perform a mock presentation to a group of friends or colleagues to simulate the experience and receive feedback. This will not only help you get used to speaking in front of others but also in adjusting your material based on their reactions.
Starting a presentation on the right foot often depends on how engaged your audience is. Using certain strategies, you can grab their attention early and maintain their interest throughout your talk:
Opening your presentation with a question to your audience is a great way to encourage participation. This invites them to think actively about the subject matter. For instance, you might ask, “By a show of hands, how many of you have experienced…?” Additionally, integrating interactive elements like quick polls or requesting volunteers for a demonstration can make the experience more dynamic and memorable.
Using direct questions throughout your presentation ensures the audience stays alert, as they might be called upon to share their views. For example, after covering a key point, you might engage your audience with, “Does anyone have an experience to share related to this?”
Mastering the pace of your speech helps keep your presentation lively. Quickening the pace when discussing exciting developments or slowing down when explaining complex ideas can help maintain interest. For example, when introducing a new concept, slow your pace to allow the audience to absorb the information.
Pauses are equally powerful. A well-timed pause after a key point gives the audience a moment to ponder the significance of what you’ve just said. It might feel like this: “The results of this study were groundbreaking. (pause) They completely shifted our understanding of…”. Pauses also give you a moment to collect your thoughts, adding to your overall composure and control of the room.
You might say something like, “Let me introduce my amazing team: Alex, our researcher, Jamie, our designer, and Sam, the developer. Together, we’ve spent the last few months creating something truly special for you.”
138 comments.
Hi every body ….. I’m new here plz anyone help me to understand the process of learning here…. i want to improve my English skills….. so plz guide me…. i shall be very thankful to you for this kindness…
sir you just tell us about the title of your lecture ,but where is your lecture… guide me
Thank you teacher, it was a very interesting lesson!
thanx mr Benjamin
Thank you for this useful lesson and for your helpful explanation.
Dear teachers,
Please let me know if the following sentence is grammatically correct. “Some people are that stupid I’m starting to wonder how they made so far.” I’ve been having hard times figuring it out for myself. Thank you in advance.
Thanks Benjamin. I did just 6/10, but I’ll still trying
Hi, how are you ? my name is Lucas, I´m from Brazil too I want to practice English with you If you want too, answer this comment please my email is [email protected] Até mais…
See you around….
I really appreciate what you do, and If you don’t mind I’d like to ask you to explain the passive voice with questions coz It’s a little confused me. just with questions not all.
In practice, do pattern drills, exercise 7 on “How to make a strong presentation” 1. Begin with / by (start off) Benjamin’s video fitly begins with an elegant flair. 2. Base on Most Benjamin’s video is based on teaching the non-English speaking student. 3. Come up with I’d like you to come up with those Benjamin’s video to improving English day by day. 4. Deal with I’ll deal with the future, my English to be as well as native English speaker. 5. Move on Well , let us move on to the next item . 6. Refer to All of the audience could referred to the transcript of Benjamin’s video. 7. To conclude My conclusion: keep learning English, let’s love and go for it.
You did a great JOB. :)
Thank you so much!
Very helpful lesson. Thanks Benjamin.
All of teachers here are good!
Thanks Benjamin, useful lesson !
Clear and loud, got it.
thank you Ben. look for your next lessons
I got 10/10. thanks a lot!! As always, you always and will be my favorite teacher! :)
Thank you, Benjamin your lesson is useful.But difficult to remember then use for speaking.
Hi Benjamin, thank you for this great lesson. I did 8 right. I learn more and more every day! Thank EngVid, thanks all teachers!
Thank you very much Mr Ben! I really love the way you teach. You´re so unpredictable that make lessons much more interesting!!
Tks Benjamin!
Thanks Teacher Benjamin for these tips.
thanks for this Useful lesson !
Positive lesson and nice tie!
Thank you Mr Benjamin!
Thanks Benjamin, great lesson!
Thanks. I did the quiz very well and got 10 out of 10.
Thank you teacher for this lesson, it’s a good for my job
Great class! Good tips! Thanks Benjamin! Love your acent by the way!!… ;)
so good lesson thankyou
Thank you, Benjamin. This is a very useful lesson. I got 100.
Hi Benjamin! “deal with” is a little bit confusing phrase. An eng-eng dictionary says “(Commerce) to do business with” that means “cooperate with” for me. As I understand from your lesson the phrase is something like ” to act in return or in answer”, that is for me a bit different from “to do business with”. I may be mistaken. Hope for your answer. Thanks for your informative lesson!
You’re right, nanajie. To deal with someone – to buy goods or services from someone, or to sell them to someone – e. g. We have dealt with the company for years. But in general, to deal with means to face something, or manage, they are closely related.
thank you for good lessons! ;)
i’d like to start by thanking Benjamin for interesting lessons here.very helpful,i got 10 out of 10.
Thanks for the class and I really appreciate at all these topics.
Hi dears Thanks for your efforts , i have a suggestion if you accept , you make me very happy. what is the best method for transelation from English to other language ? thanks
The best method is to become an interpreter. Regards.
Thanks Ms Ronni and Emma
Thank you for the lesson.
Thank you :)
Thanks, Benjamin, for this lesson!
It’s really useful to guide presentations.
I really liked this lesson, Mr. Benjamin,let me tell you,you have great teaching skills. Your name is really cool by the way refer to a American hundred bill. (:
Wow! This is a very great platform to learn for the people like me, thank you …..
succesful ::::)))))
Good lesson! Thanks teacher.
Good lesson! SirI’am new students pz help to me learn English thank you
You are really an amazing teacher!!! I love your lessons!
Thank you. Excellent lesson
Thank you, Benjamin
Dear Benjamin i’m really appreciate your job, thank you so much. I adore British accent and your lessons.
Thanks Benjamin! I love the way you speak. You speak clearly so I can understand it well. :D
Thanks Benjamin ^-^
Good one…
thank you Benjamin. it was a nice lesson
thank you very much!
I would like to begin by thanking you for teaching us. Your accent is excellent. But I have to deal with my speaking problem. If anybody help me to improve my english please find me on skype: [email protected]
Thank you Benjamin for your nice teaching.
1. Begin with / by (start off) When I was young, there was no problems to just start off an exercise without any stretching. However, I always got injured without stretching now.
2. Base on I want to base myself on Netherland for my first job.
3. Come up with The most important thing in scientific paper is to come up with a novel idea.
4. Deal with I’m now having a hard time to deal with my girlfriend’s obsession to me.
5. Move on I’m gonna move on English grammar study after finishing this.
6. Refer to My diagnosis of the ailment is referred to the book “blablabla”.
7. To conclude I conclude this practice by expressing thank to Benjamin.
If any people who find an error or better expression, I always welcome to hear your advice.
Thank you Mr. Benjamin.
It’s very usefull video! Thank you Benjamin.
This is very a helpful lesson. I’ve got 8/10 points in quiz so i think i will watch the video once again to make sure I remember all things :)
Thank you !
thanky Mr. Benjamin.
Thanks for these great points.
thank you for these informations. I think it will help many people (include me) in presentation cases. Bravo :)
Information is uncountable noun, so you do not need to add “s” behind information.
i got 9 out of ten, its difficult if you don’t analyze the sentence..
Nice and every good presentation, thank you Mr. Benjamin
I’d like to conclude this lesson by saying that it was just awesome and very important to me! Thank you!
Thank you, I will use this words in my next presentation.
I am interested in learning english well, I understand that english is not my native language
Thank you for your lesson, Benjamin. It’s really helpful.
I’d like to thank everybody here about these lessons, I hope to be successful.
Thanks ….
100%!!! Thanks for this lesson
Hi All… Nice to joint in here due to I’m just. Please kindly support me to more good english lesson.
very useful lesson. Thank you so much.
Hi, I really enjoy my first lesson here. It is very great topic since my job is giving presentation to my team.
I really enjoyed this lesson. Good job, Benjamin. Thanks a lot.
Thank you so much!!!!!
Thank you teacher for this great lesson :) :)
I’d like to thank you for your effort, really enjoying to listen to you
Thank you so much teacher
Thanks, Excellent tips, when I have the opportunity I will put it on practice.
hi i want to learn your lessons but i cant enter and
didnt open your shigt.please help me. this is my email.h. h.askari.f@gmail
I’d like to learn more on Business English, Could you please let me know how can I find more materials in this regard?
10/10 thta’s the good way to begin with
Dear Ben I’ll start off by noticing that you’ll be the perfect protagonist in a thriller/horror film. All kidding aside your lesson was very useful. Thanks you very much Ben :D
thank you so much,that was really helpful. btw i really like your accent
Great Lesson!
Thank you, Benjamin. I’m so happy that I’ve got 10 correct out of 10.
What a good lesson. Thank U Benjamin!
refer to this lesson i’d like to say thats gonna be really rewarding for me / thanks a lot
Thanks alot really it’s uesful lesson God bless you
Very good !!!
useful lesson. Thanks alot. I get 9 out of 10. =)
I got 100 point but actually, I’m confused about “refer to” which is not related about “page” and “to conclude” exactly. Could you give us more examples ? Thanks in advance …
Excellent lesson!
You helped me a lot this video is really very useful!
Hello, i’m a new user. I’m very happy of this video, thank you Benjamin ;-)
thanks Benjamin Excellent lesson!
thanks Benjamin
Thank you… It’s amazing lesson.
I’ve got 100 percent!!! Thank you for the lesson!!!!
Very good &grafic!
Great! I got 10/10. Thanks a lot
what a nice tie benjamin.
Benjamin, I have a mistake. You need second R in “I’ll be referring that to”
good lessons, thank’s teacher.
Good Teacher, thanks Ben!
Thank you so much for the teaching.
Benjamin was a very good lesson, with the information that you gave us I could improve my english and the presentatio of the result in the company that I work, the lesson add value to me. Many thanks
thank u benj for fluent speaking and clear ,specially with sentence sample ,thanks again
Sorry, it’s a be little hard to understand your lesson. I think he can improve his explanation because is not that all clear
I appreciate for your lecture. I got 100 points from your quiz!
THank you, Benjamin! 100% is unexpecting for me. Your lessons are very interesting. I always watch your lectures with pleasure. Best regards, Olga
Don’t we double the consonant when putting refer at the ing form as well as the ed form ?
Benjamin has very interesting lessons to learn.
Very good lesson, and that’s ok in my test that was very difficult…
It will help me a lot thank you
Thank you Benjamin
Thanks Sir..
thanks teacher for this useful lesson!
THANKS, ALL THE BEST FOR YOU, EASY USEFUL LESSON
Thanks Benjamin for useful lesson!
Thank you, Benjamin.
I’d like to begin my comment by thanking you Mr Benjamin for your useful lesson and the way that you gave us information based on making them easily to understand, i appreciate your effort to make kind of those lesson. really you gave me a courage to start making presentations in english language, especially in mathematics because i’m assistant professor of mathematics at university and i have to try make great presentation for my students. i conclude today’s comment by thanking again you Mr for all these tips and i wish all the best for all person who use this website to improve their English level.
Thank you so much for this lesson ! I just love your clarity, your pace and your volume, like Gill says !
thank you for this wonderful lesson
1o/1o well done,Benjamin greetings from Kazakhstan 13 Dec2o21:)
it’s great thank you
Got a 9/10! Great class, thanks!
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A division of bold new directions training, how to use transition words and phrases effectively in presentations.
When delivering a presentation, it’s important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand and follow along. This can be accomplished by using transitions to bridge the gap between ideas. Transitions can be a word or phrase that act as a signpost to the audience, signaling the relationship between points and ideas. Here we will take a look at how to use transitions more effectively in your presentation.
Speech transitions are words or phrases that allow you to seamlessly transition from one point to another so that your speech flows smoothly. This makes it easier for the audience to follow along and see how one point relates to the next. Transitions can be one word, a phrase, or even a full sentence.
Introduction.
You can introduce your topic with one of the following transitions:
This is when you will signal to the audience that you have introduced the topic and you are ready to discuss the first main point.
You can use these transitions to shift from one point to another during your presentation:
Part of rehearsing your presentation involves practicing your transitions. Be sure to plan for these words and phrases, as they are the finishing touches that will pull your entire presentation together. Without them, you can confuse your audience. Effective transitions help to create a clearly organized presentation that feels like a continuous conversation.
When giving a presentation, it is important to use phrases that will help keep your audience engaged. If you are speaking in front of a group of people, you want to make sure that you are keeping their attention. In this blog post, we will discuss some phrases that you can use when making a presentation. We will also provide tips for giving an effective speech!
This phrase is a great way to start your presentation. It will help show your audience that you are grateful for the opportunity to speak in front of them.
This is a great way to start your presentation. It will help show your audience that you are grateful for the opportunity to speak in front of them.
When giving a presentation, it is important to let your audience know what they can expect from you. This phrase will do just that!
This phrase will help prepare your audience for what is coming next. It will also help keep them engaged throughout your presentation.
This phrase will help get your presentation started on the right foot. It will let your audience know that you are ready to begin speaking.
This phrase is a great way to engage your audience. It will also show them that you are willing to answer any questions they may have.
When giving a presentation, it is important to make sure that you are keeping your audience’s attention. This phrase will do just that!
This phrase is another great way to provide your audience with some context. It will help them understand the topic of your presentation better.
When giving a presentation, it is important to use examples to illustrate your points. This phrase will do just that!
At the end of your presentation, it is important to ask your audience for their thoughts. This phrase will do just that!
When giving a presentation, it is important to make sure that you are providing your audience with enough information. This phrase will do just that!
This phrase is a great way to get your audience involved in your presentation. It will also help generate discussion about the topic of your speech.
This phrase is another great way to engage your audience. It will also help ensure that they stay engaged throughout the entirety of your speech.
#15: “i’d like to leave you with this thought..”.
When giving a presentation, it is important to end on a strong note. This phrase will do just that!
This phrase is a great way to transition between different sections of your presentation.
When giving a presentation, it is important to ensure that your audience understands the points you made. This phrase will do just that!
This phrase is a great way to summarize the points you made in your presentation.
#20:”in conclusion,”, #21:”to sum up,”, #22: “in short,”, #23: “to put it simply,”, #24: “in a nutshell,”, #25: “to make a long story short,”, #26: “anyway, moving on..”, #27: “ok, so let’s move on to the next slide.”, #28: “this is the part of my presentation where i talk about..”.
When giving a presentation, it is important to make sure that your audience understands the topic of your speech. This phrase will do just that!
Giving a presentation can be intimidating, but it is important to remember that you are not alone. By using these phrases, you will help ensure that your presentation goes smoothly. Good luck!
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A simple technique to improve your presentation is to sprinkle a number of positive words into the script.
These positive words (more commonly known as “power words” can help to put the audience in a good mood.
Just be careful not to overdo them.
1. Thanks – Thanks for inviting me to speak with you today. 2. Lovely – It’s lovely to be back. 3. Nice – It’s nice to see so many people here. 4. Passionate – I am passionate about positive words.
5. Show – I will show you … 6. Learn – You will learn that … 7. Find – You will find that … 8. Discover – I hope you will discover the marvellous properties of electrons. 9. New – I am presenting to you some new findings on … 10. Found – We found that there were three main areas of interest.
11. Clearly – On this slide you will clearly see … 12. Impressive – The results were impressive . 13. Very – He scored very high up the rankings. 14. Positive – This conveys a very positive message. 15. Lot – We achieved a lot in a very short space of time. 16. Importance – The importance of the data is that it … 17. Cool – Here is a cool example of … 18. Great – It received a great degree of attention. 19. Good – This is a good example of a positive word. 20. Marvellous – It’s marvellous that so many … 21. Wonderful – The wonderful world of the World Wide Web … 22. Totally – She was totally committed to the cause of …
23. Enjoyed – I hope that you have enjoyed my presentation. 24. Pleasure – It has been a real pleasure to be here today. 25. Thank you – Thank you for listening to me today.
What positive words do you use in your presentations? Please add them in to the comments box.
Great article! In my practice, I have found that positive / strong words make wonders.
Thanks for this article, it’s really helpful!
Great article! Thank you.
Thanks for this article, it’s really helpful
Thanks for this article, it’s really helpful and needed
Speak for success.
"Be a voice not an echo." - Albert Einstein
Want to wow audiences in your presentations and deliver your messages successfully? Avoid these 25 'death-dealing' words or phrases!
You're really ready for this speech or presentation, aren't you?
You have great content — and you know it cold. Your listeners are absolutely going to benefit from what you'll be giving them. In fact, you think it will change their lives for the better.
So the last thing you want to do is weaken your message by using language you could just as easily do without.
What about when you draw a blank in a speech, or forget parts of a list? "Yikes!" moments happen to all of us. But isn't it better to avoid one in the first place? Find out how to stay in The Zone when those risky moments sneak up on you. Download my essential cheat sheet, "Oops! — 5 Ways to Recover from a Brain Freeze."
In the spirit of combining your great message with effective delivery, here are 25 words or phrases you should avoid like the plague (damn . . . guess I should have included clichés ). Keep in mind that there will be times when you might want to use a word or phrase below for specific effect. Generally speaking, however, stay away from the following.
This blog was first published in 2014. It is updated from time to time.
You should follow me on Twitter here .
Tags: presentation skills , public speaking tips , presentation tips , speeches , influence , The Genard Method , Dr. Gary Genard , words or phrases to avoid in speeches , words and phrases to avoid
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[email protected] 617-993-3410
B arack Obama was the keynote speaker of the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where the 63-year-old former President tapped into his renowned oratory skills to honor his former vice president President Joe Biden, warn the party against complacency, and rally support for Kamala Harris against Donald Trump.
Read More: ‘Yes, She Can’: A Breakdown of Barack Obama’s 2024 DNC Speech in Support of Kamala Harris
The following transcript was prepared and provided to TIME by Rev , using AI-powered software, and it was reviewed and edited for accuracy by TIME staff.
Chicago—it’s good to be home. It is good to be home. And I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling fired up. I am feeling ready to go even if I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama.
Read More: ‘Hope Is Making a Comeback’: The Key Moments From Michelle Obama’s 2024 DNC Speech
I am feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible; because we have a chance to elect someone who has spent her entire life trying to give people the same chances America gave her, someone who sees you and hears you and will get up every single day and fight for you, the next President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris.
It’s been 16 years since I had the honor of accepting this party’s nomination for President. And I know that’s hard to believe, because I have not aged a bit. But it’s true. And looking back, I can say, without question, that my first big decision as your nominee turned out to be one of my best. And that was asking Joe Biden to serve by my side as Vice President.
Other than some common Irish blood, Joe and I come from different backgrounds. But we became brothers. And as we worked together for eight—sometimes pretty tough—years, what I came to admire most about Joe wasn’t just his smarts, his experience; it was his empathy and his decency and his hard earned resilience, his unshakeable belief that everyone in this country deserves a fair shot. And over the last four years, those are the values America has needed most.
At a time when millions of our fellow citizens were sick and dying, we needed a leader with the character to put politics aside and do what was right. At a time when our economy was reeling, we needed a leader with the determination to drive what would become the world’s strongest recovery: 15 million jobs, higher wages, lower healthcare costs. At a time when the other party had turned into a cult of personality, we needed a leader who was steady and brought people together, and was selfless enough to do the rarest thing there is in politics: putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country.
History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding President who defended democracy at a moment of great danger. And I am proud to call him my President, but I am even prouder to call him my friend.
( Crowd chants: “Thank you, Joe!” )
Now, the torch has been passed. Now, it is up to all of us to fight for the America we believe in. And make no mistake, it will be a fight. For all the incredible energy we’ve been able to generate over the last few weeks, for all the rallies and the memes, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country. A country where too many Americans are still struggling, where a lot of Americans don’t believe government can help. And as we gather here tonight, the people who will decide this election are asking a very simple question: Who will fight for me? Who’s thinking about my future, about my children’s future, about our future together?
One thing is for certain: Donald Trump is not losing sleep over that question. Here’s a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually been getting worse now that he is afraid of losing to Kamala. There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes.
President Obama: It’s been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually gotten worse now that Trump is afraid of losing to Kamala. The childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories and weird obsession with crowd sizes 🤏 pic.twitter.com/cstJYrpiCg — Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 21, 2024
It just goes on and on and on. The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to the neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day. Now, from a neighbor, that’s exhausting. From a President, it’s just dangerous.
The truth is, Donald Trump sees power as nothing more than a means to his ends. He wants the middle class to pay the price for another huge tax cut that would mostly help him and his rich friends. He killed a bipartisan immigration deal written in part by one of the most conservative Republicans in Congress that would’ve helped secure our southern border, because he thought trying to actually solve the problem would hurt his campaign. He doesn’t—
( Crowd boos. ) Do not boo. Vote.
He doesn’t seem to care if more women lose their reproductive freedom, since it won’t affect his life. And most of all, Donald Trump wants us to think that this country is hopelessly divided: between us and them, between the real Americans who—of course—support him and the outsiders who don’t. And he wants you to think that you’ll be richer and safer if you will just give him the power to put those other people back in their place. It is one of the oldest tricks in politics, from a guy whose act has—let’s face it—gotten pretty stale.
We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos. We have seen that movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually worse.
America’s ready for a new chapter. America’s ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.
And Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion. As you heard from Michelle, Kamala was not born into privilege. She had to work for what she’s got. And she actually cares about what other people are going through. She’s not the neighbor running the leaf blower. She’s the neighbor rushing over to help when you need a hand.
As a prosecutor, Kamala stood up for children who had been victims of sexual abuse. As an Attorney General of the most populous state in the country, she fought big banks and for-profit colleges, securing billions of dollars for the people they had scammed. After the whole mortgage crisis, she pushed me and my Administration hard to make sure homeowners got a fair settlement. It didn’t matter that I was a Democrat, didn’t matter that she had knocked on doors for my campaign in Iowa—she was going to fight to get as much relief as possible for the families who deserved it.
As Vice President, she helped take on the drug companies to cap the cost of insulin, lower the cost of healthcare, give families with kids a tax cut. And she is running for President with real plans to lower costs even more and protect Medicare and Medicaid and sign a law to guarantee every woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions.
In other words, Kamala Harris won’t be focused on her problems, she’ll be focused on yours. As President, she won’t just cater to her own supporters and punish those who refuse to kiss the ring or bend the knee. She’ll work on behalf of every American. That’s who Kamala is.
And in the White House, she will have an outstanding partner in Governor Tim Walz. Let me tell you something. Let me tell you something. I love this guy. Tim is the kind of person who should be in politics: born in a small town, served his country, taught kids, coached football, took care of his neighbors. He knows who he is, and he knows what’s important. You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don’t come from some political consultant; they come from his closet, and they have been through some stuff. They have been through some stuff. That’s right.
Together, Kamala and Tim have kept faith with America’s central story: a story that says, “We are all created equal.” All of us endowed with certain inalienable rights. That everyone deserves a chance. That even when we don’t agree with each other, we can find a way to live with each other. That’s Kamala’s vision. That’s Tim’s vision. That’s the Democratic Party’s vision. And our job over the next 11 weeks is to convince as many people as possible to vote for that vision.
Now, it won’t be easy. The other side knows it’s easier to play on people’s fears and cynicism. It always has been. They will tell you that government is inherently corrupt, that sacrifice and generosity are for suckers, and since the game is rigged it’s okay to take what you want and just look after your own. That’s the easy path.
We have a different task. Our job is to convince people that democracy can actually deliver. And, and in doing that, we can’t just point to what we’ve already accomplished. We can’t just rely on the ideas of the past. We need to chart a new way forward to meet the challenges of today. And Kamala understands this. She knows, for example, that if we want to make it easier for more young people to buy a home, we need to build more units and clear away some of the outdated laws and regulations that made it harder to build homes for working people in this country. That is a priority. And she’s put out a bold new plan to do just that.
On healthcare, we should all be proud of the enormous progress that we’ve made through the Affordable Care Act, providing millions of people access to affordable coverage, protecting millions more from unscrupulous insurance practices. And I’d noticed, by the way, that since it’s become popular, they don’t call it Obamacare no more.
But Kamala knows we can’t stop there, which is why she’ll keep working to limit out-of-pocket costs. Kamala knows that if we want to help people get ahead, we need to put a college degree within reach of more Americans. But she also knows college shouldn’t be the only ticket to the middle class. We need to follow the lead of governors like Tim Walz, who said, if you’ve got the skills and the drive, you shouldn’t need a degree to work for state government.
And in this new economy, we need a President who actually cares about the millions of people all across this country, who wake up every single day to do the essential, often thankless work: to care for our sick, to clean our streets, to deliver our packages. We need a President who will stand up for their right to bargain for better wages and working conditions. And Kamala will be that President.
Yes, she can.
( Crowd chants: “Yes, she can!” ) Yes, she can.
A Harris-Walz administration can help us move past some of the tired, old debates that keep stifling progress. Because at their core, Kamala and Tim understand that when everybody gets a fair shot, we are all better off. They understand that when every child gets a good education, the whole economy gets stronger. When women are paid the same as men for doing the same job, all families benefit. They understand that we can secure our borders without tearing kids away from their parents. Just like we can keep our streets safe while also building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve and eliminating bias that will make it better for everybody.
Donald Trump and his well-heeled donors, they don’t see the world that way. For them, one group’s gains is necessarily another group’s loss. For them, freedom means that the powerful can do pretty much what they please, whether it’s fire workers trying to organize a union or put poison in our rivers or avoid paying taxes like everybody else has to do.
Well, we have a broader idea of freedom. We believe in the freedom to provide for your family if you’re willing to work hard. The freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water and send your kids to school without worrying if they’ll come home. We believe that true freedom gives each of us the right to make decisions about our own life, how we worship, what our family looks like, how many kids we have, who we marry. And we believe that freedom requires us to recognize that other people have the freedom to make choices that are different than ours. That’s okay.
That’s the America Kamala Harris and Tim Walz believe in: an America where “we, the people” includes everyone. Because that’s the only way this American experiment works. And despite what our politics might suggest, I think most Americans understand that. Democracy isn’t just a bunch of abstract principles and dusty laws in some book somewhere. It’s the values we live by. It’s the way we treat each other, including those who don’t look like us or pray like us or see the world exactly like we do.
That sense of mutual respect has to be part of our message. Our politics have become so polarized these days that all of us across the political spectrum seem so quick to assume the worst in others unless they agree with us on every single issue. We start thinking that the only way to win is to scold and shame and out-yell the other side. And after a while, regular folks just tune out, or they don’t bother to vote.
Now that approach may work for the politicians who just want attention and thrive on division, but it won’t work for us. To make progress on the things we care about, the things that really affect people’s lives, we need to remember that we’ve all got our blind spots and contradictions and prejudices. And that if we want to win over those who aren’t yet ready to support our candidates, we need to listen to their concerns and maybe learn something in the process.
After all, if a parent or grandparent occasionally says something that makes us cringe, we don’t automatically assume they’re bad people. We recognize that the world is moving fast, that they need time and maybe a little encouragement to catch up. Our fellow citizens deserve the same grace we hope they’ll extend to us. That’s how we can build a true Democratic majority, one that can get things done.
And by the way, that does not just matter to the people in this country. The rest of the world is watching to see if we can actually pull this off. No nation, no society has ever tried to build a democracy as big and as diverse as ours before. One that includes people that, over decades, have come from every corner of the globe. One where our allegiances and our community are defined not by race or blood but by a common creed. And that’s why when we uphold our values, the world’s a little brighter. When we don’t, the world’s a little dimmer—and dictators and autocrats feel emboldened, and over time, we become less safe.
We shouldn’t be the world's policeman and we can’t eradicate every cruelty and injustice in the world. But America can be and must be a force for good: discouraging conflict, fighting disease, promoting human rights, protecting the planet from climate change, defending freedom, brokering peace. That’s what Kamala Harris believes and so do most Americans.
( Crowd chants: “Yes, we can!” )
I know these ideas can feel pretty naive right now. We live in a time of such confusion and rancor, with a culture that puts a premium on things that don’t last: money, fame, status, likes. We chase the approval of strangers on our phones. We build all manner of walls and fences around ourselves, and then we wonder why we feel so alone. We don’t trust each other as much because we don’t take the time to know each other. And in that space between us, politicians and algorithms teach us to caricature each other and troll each other and fear each other.
But here’s the good news, Chicago: All across America, in big cities and small towns, away from all the noise, the ties that bind us together are still there. We still coach Little League and look out for our elderly neighbors. We still feed the hungry in churches and mosques and synagogues and temples. We share the same pride when our Olympic athletes compete for the gold. Because the vast majority of us do not want to live in a country that’s bitter and divided. We want something better. We want to be better. And the joy and the excitement that we’re seeing around this campaign tells us we’re not alone.
You know, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this these past few months because, as Michelle mentioned, this summer we lost her mom, Ms. Marian Robinson. And I don’t know that anybody has ever loved their mother-in-law any more than I love mine. Mostly it’s because she was funny and wise and the least pretentious person I knew. That and she always defended me with Michelle when I messed up. ( Crowd laughs. ) I’d hide behind her.
But I also think one of the reasons Marian and I became so close was she reminded me of my grandmother, the woman who helped raise me as a child. And on the surface, the two of them did not have a lot in common. One was a Black woman from right here, south side of Chicago, right down the way—( Crowd cheers. )—went to Englewood High School. The other was a little old white lady born in a tiny town called Peru, Kansas. ( Crowd cheers. ) Now I know there aren’t that many people from Peru. ( Crowd laughs. )
And yet they shared a basic outlook on life. They were strong, smart, resourceful women, full of common sense, who, regardless of the barriers they encountered—and women growing up in the ’40s and ’50s and ’60s, they encountered barriers—they still went about their business without fuss or complaint and provided an unshakeable foundation of love for their children and their grandchildren. In that sense, they both represented an entire generation of working people, who through war and depression, discrimination, and limited opportunity, helped build this country. A lot of them toiled every day at jobs that were often too small for them and didn’t pay a lot. They willingly went without just to keep a roof over their family’s heads, just to give their children something better.
But they knew what was true. They knew what mattered: things like honesty and integrity, kindness, and hard work. They weren’t impressed with braggarts or bullies. They didn’t think putting other people down lifted you up or made you strong. They didn’t spend a lot of time obsessing about what they didn’t have. Instead, they appreciated what they did. They found pleasure in simple things: a card game with friends, a good meal and laughter around the kitchen table, helping others, and, most of all, seeing their children do things and go places that they would’ve never imagined for themselves.
Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican or somewhere in between, we have all had people like that in our lives. People like Kamala’s parents, who crossed oceans because they believed in the promise of America. People like Tim’s parents, who taught him about the importance of service. Good, hardworking people, who weren’t famous or powerful but who managed in countless ways to leave this country just a little bit better than they found it.
As much as any policy or program, I believe that’s what we yearn for: a return to an America where we work together and look out for each other. A restoration of, what Lincoln called on the eve of civil war, our “bonds of affection.” An America that taps what he called “the better angels of our nature.”
That is what this election is about. And I believe that’s why, if we each do our part over the next 77 days, if we knock on doors, if we make phone calls, if we talk to our friends, if we listen to our neighbors, if we work like we’ve never worked before, if we hold firm to our convictions, we will elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States and Tim Walz as the next Vice President of the United States. We will elect leaders up and down the ballot who will fight for the hopeful, forward-looking America we all believe in. And together, we too will build a country that is more secure and more just, more equal, and more free. So let’s get to work.
God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
Contact us at [email protected]
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Overall, TV viewership of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago was up 14 percent from the Republicans’ event last month.
By Michael M. Grynbaum
Maybe it was curiosity about the untested candidate who took command of the ticket at the last minute, or the cameos by TV-ready celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling and Kerry Washington. The runaway (and ultimately misguided) speculation that Beyoncé might make an appearance certainly did not hurt.
Whatever the reason, Democrats notched a victory this week in one of the year’s biggest media bouts: Which party’s political convention would attract more viewers?
The four-day celebration in Chicago of Vice President Kamala Harris was watched on TV by an average of 21.8 million viewers across four nights, Nielsen said on Friday. That was 14 percent more than the Republicans’ jamboree last month in Milwaukee, a four-day tribute to former President Donald J. Trump.
The gap between the conventions, however, narrowed on the final day, when the presidential nominees delivered their climactic remarks. On Thursday, the night of Ms. Harris’s acceptance speech, 26.2 million people tuned in. On the evening in July when Mr. Trump spoke, in his first extensive address since surviving an assassination attempt, 25.4 million watched — a difference of only 3 percent.
On its own, Ms. Harris’s 40-minute speech averaged 28.9 million TV viewers, according to Nielsen. The audience for Mr. Trump’s 92-minute address last month fell short of that figure, peaking early at 28.4 million viewers and then dwindling as the former president spoke long into the night.
Live TV ratings are a useful metric of the nation’s attention economy, but they are not all-encompassing. The Nielsen data did not capture viewers who streamed the conventions on their phones or laptops. Democrats, in particular, encouraged podcasters and social media influencers to post short videos from Chicago in the hopes of reaching voters who do not watch traditional TV.
This year’s convention ratings also underscored the continuing flight toward partisanship in television news.
Just as Fox News crushed its network rivals in the ratings race during the Republican convention — beating MSNBC and CNN combined — the Democratic convention had one clear winner: MSNBC. The cable home of Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid, which has a fervent liberal fan base, beat every network (including ABC, CBS, and NBC) in total convention viewership.
This year marked MSNBC’s largest audience for a Democratic convention since the network’s founding in 1996, a milestone achieved despite the cord-cutting that has drastically reduced the number of people who subscribe to cable in the first place.
CNN has endured a tough stretch in the ratings, but its Democratic convention coverage attracted more viewers in the most coveted demographic — adults 25 to 54 years old — than any other network. (MSNBC fell just short, losing to CNN in the category by a margin of roughly 1 percent.)
CNN’s new leadership is trying to appeal to more casual, and less partisan, consumers of news. It has already played a central role in this year’s campaign: It was CNN’s presidential debate in June that set off the head-spinning series of events that led to Ms. Harris’s prime-time speech on Thursday.
Michael M. Grynbaum writes about the intersection of media, politics and culture. He has been a media correspondent at The Times since 2016. More about Michael M. Grynbaum
Gretchen whitmer takes jabs at trump: 'donald trump doesn't know you at all'.
Jaclyn Diaz
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer walks off stage after speaking on the fourth and last day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption
The NPR Network will be reporting live from Chicago throughout the week bringing you the latest on the Democratic National Convention .
In a speech with several digs at former President Donald Trump, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mocked his previous comments referring to her as "that woman from Michigan" during her speech at the final night of the Democratic National Convention.
Whitmer called Trump "that man from Mar-a-Lago" while also brushing off his previous remarks by saying being from Michigan is "a badge of honor."
She took aim at Trump's relatability to Americans that have "lived a life like ours."
"Kamala Harris has lived a life like ours, she knows us," Whitmer told the crowd. "Donald Trump doesn't know you at all. You think he understands that when your car breaks down you can't get to work? No. His first word was probably chauffeur."
Much like Whitmer and many other Americans, the Michigan governor said Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris took care of her beloved mother, Shyamala Gopalan , when she was sick with cancer.
"You think he's ever had to take items out of the cart before checking out? Hell, you think he's ever been to a grocery store? That's what the chauffeur is for," she said.
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List of Powerful Words to Use in Presentations . The English language has about 170,000 words in use. But an average person has an active vocabulary of 20,000 - 30,000 words. ... these words are your best buddies to use all through your presentation slides and during delivery! 1.
35 Powerful Presentation Phrases in English for Engaging Your Audience. Your palms are sweating. For a moment, your mind goes blank. All eyes are on you. That moment right before you start presenting - as you take in your audience - is usually the scariest. The nervousness lessens with practice, but even the most frequent public speakers ...
Here are some phrases which you can use to structure the introduction in this way: Introduce. 1. Good morning/afternoon (everyone) (ladies and gentlemen). 2. It's a pleasure to welcome (the President) here. 3. I'm … (the Director of …) Introduce the presentation topic.
If you need more specific vocabulary, like for a presentation to the board, your manager, or a client on their finances, check out our blog post on the most common English for accounting vocabulary. 4. Prepare some visual aids. These days, most people use a slide deck when presenting business ideas.
Effective - successful in producing a desired or intended result. Springboard - springboard is also something that provides an opportunity to achieve something. Handout - a document given to students or reporters that contains information about a particular subject. Q&A - an abbreviation for 'question and answer'.
Here are some useful introductory phrases. Today I am here to talk to you about…. What I am going to talk about today is…. I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about…. I am delighted to be here today to tell you about…. I want to make you a short presentation about…. I'd like to give you a brief breakdown of….
The way you start your presentation sets the tone for the rest of it. Begin by greeting your audience and introducing the topic. Here are some phrases to get you started: 1. Good morning, everyone. Depending on the time of day, you can also say "Good afternoon, everyone" or "Good evening, everyone.". 2.
Phrases for introducing visuals. It's important to introduce your visual to the audience. You can use the following phrases: "This graph shows you…". "Take a look at this…". "If you look at this, you will see…". "I'd like you to look at this…". "This chart illustrates the figures…". "This graph gives you a ...
Let's explore a list of presentation words that can add depth and dimension: Elucidate-make something clear, explain. Pivotal-of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else. Insights-an accurate and deep understanding. Nuanced-characterized by subtle distinctions or variations.
panic and rush the whole presentation. Here are some phrases you can use to get yourself back on track. There are certain common words in English which seem similar to those in your own language. Unfortunately, the stress patterns are often different. Here are some words for you to practise: Tips for getting out of a difficult situation ...
10 mins read. Here you will learn at least 37 useful phrases for presentations in English. Improve your business English skills and feel confident when making presentations in English. Presentation phrases for setting the scene, recapping, ending a presentation in English and more. Listen to the podcast Speak Better English with Harry or watch ...
Highlighting information during your talk. When you are giving a presentation in English, you might want to highlight a particular piece of information or something that's important. You can use phrases such as 'Let's focus on …', 'I want to highlight …', 'Pay attention to …', 'Let's look at …', 'I want to ...
The general structure of a presentation is the following: It is up to you to design these three parts. Using videos or everyday-examples can be a great way to introduce the audience to the topic. The important thing is that you capture the audience's attention from the beginning by making an interesting introduction.
understand the speaker more easily. get an idea of the length and content of the presentation. We've divided the phrases and sentences into sections which follow the logical progression of a well-balanced presentation. 1. Welcoming. Good morning and welcome to [name of company, name of conference hall, hotel, etc.].
Speech transitions are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified. This makes it easier for the audience to understand your argument and without transitions the audience may be confused as to how one point relates to another and they may think you're ...
19. "I'm honored to present to you this comprehensive look into…". 20. "Without further ado, let's get started on a journey through…". 21. "Thank you for carving time out of your day to join me for this presentation on…". 22. "It's wonderful to see such an engaged audience ready to tackle the topic of…". 23.
Do you have to give presentations for school or work? Today I'm going to teach you key vocabulary and phrases to use in a presentation, speech, or sales pitc...
Today Im going to teach you key vocabulary and phrases to use in a presentation, speech, or sales pitch. Ill give you my tips for giving a good presentation, and show you how to structure your presentation using language that is intelligent and clear. Youll find it especially helpful if you are shy or nervous when it comes to public speaking.
2. "Imagine if…". By asking your audience to imagine a scenario, you engage their imagination and make your presentation more relatable and persuasive. 3. "This is a game-changer…". By using powerful language, you convey the importance and impact of your ideas, making your presentation more compelling and convincing.
When delivering a presentation, it's important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand and follow along. This can be accomplished. Call Us: 1-800-501-1245. Menu Skip to content. ... How to Handle Technical Issues During a Presentation July 12, 2024; The Use of Graphics and Images in Presentations July 9, 2024;
As part of your presentation skill set, it helps catch and maintain the audience's attention, helping them remain focused while minimising passive response, ensuring the message is delivered correctly, and encouraging a call to action. Stage presence. During a presentation, projecting confidence can help keep your audience engaged.
28 Phrases to Use When Making a Presentation. When giving a presentation, it is important to use phrases that will help keep your audience engaged. If you are speaking in front of a group of people, you want to make sure that you are keeping their attention. In this blog post, we will discuss some phrases that you can use when making a ...
Cool - Here is a cool example of …. 18. Great - It received a great degree of attention. 19. Good - This is a good example of a positive word. 20. Marvellous - It's marvellous that so many …. 21. Wonderful - The wonderful world of the World Wide Web ….
Keep the focus on your listeners, and you'll serve them and you. "A little bit." This is a phrase guaranteed to water down your content. "I'd like to talk a little bit about . . ." pales next to, "Let's discuss this year's important industry trends." "Just." Similar problem as with #2.
Barack Obama was the keynote speaker of the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where the 63-year-old former President tapped into his renowned oratory skills to honor ...
On its own, Ms. Harris's 40-minute speech averaged 28.9 million TV viewers, according to Nielsen. The audience for Mr. Trump's 92-minute address last month fell short of that figure, peaking ...
In a speech with several digs at former President Donald Trump, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mocked his previous comments referring to her as "that woman from Michigan" during her speech at the ...
In fact, her speech was cut from the same cloth as three very different past nominees who recounted the importance of family and overcoming adversity — all of whom went on to win the presidency.
The former president's speech in Claremont, N.H., echoed his message of vengeance and grievance, as he called himself a "very proud election denier" and decried his legal entanglements, once ...