speech it means

Forum discussions with the word(s) "speech" in the title:

In other languages: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

How it works

Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance.

Explore how BetterUp connects to your core business systems.

We pair AI with the latest in human-centered coaching to drive powerful, lasting learning and behavior change.

Build leaders that accelerate team performance and engagement.

Unlock performance potential at scale with AI-powered curated growth journeys.

Build resilience, well-being and agility to drive performance across your entire enterprise.

Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders.

Unlock business impact from the top with executive coaching.

Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Accelerate the performance and potential of your agencies and employees.

See how innovative organizations use BetterUp to build a thriving workforce.

Discover how BetterUp measurably impacts key business outcomes for organizations like yours.

Daring Leadership Institute: a groundbreaking partnership that amplifies Brené Brown's empirically based, courage-building curriculum with BetterUp’s human transformation platform.

• What is coaching?

Learn how 1:1 coaching works, who its for, and if it's right for you.

Accelerate your personal and professional growth with the expert guidance of a BetterUp Coach.

Types of Coaching

Navigate career transitions, accelerate your professional growth, and achieve your career goals with expert coaching.

Enhance your communication skills for better personal and professional relationships, with tailored coaching that focuses on your needs.

Find balance, resilience, and well-being in all areas of your life with holistic coaching designed to empower you.

Discover your perfect match : Take our 5-minute assessment and let us pair you with one of our top Coaches tailored just for you.

Research, expert insights, and resources to develop courageous leaders within your organization.

Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth.

View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions.

The latest insights and ideas for building a high-performing workplace.

• BetterUp Briefing

The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today.

Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more.

Founded in 2022 to deepen the understanding of the intersection of well-being, purpose, and performance

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

For Business

For Individuals

How to write a speech that your audience remembers

Whether in a work meeting or at an investor panel, you might give a speech at some point. And no matter how excited you are about the opportunity, the experience can be nerve-wracking . 

But feeling butterflies doesn’t mean you can’t give a great speech. With the proper preparation and a clear outline, apprehensive public speakers and natural wordsmiths alike can write and present a compelling message. Here’s how to write a good speech you’ll be proud to deliver.

What is good speech writing?

Good speech writing is the art of crafting words and ideas into a compelling, coherent, and memorable message that resonates with the audience. Here are some key elements of great speech writing:

• It begins with clearly understanding the speech's purpose and the audience it seeks to engage. 
• A well-written speech clearly conveys its central message, ensuring that the audience understands and retains the key points. 
• It is structured thoughtfully, with a captivating opening, a well-organized body, and a conclusion that reinforces the main message. 
• Good speech writing embraces the power of engaging content, weaving in stories, examples, and relatable anecdotes to connect with the audience on both intellectual and emotional levels. 

Ultimately, it is the combination of these elements, along with the authenticity and delivery of the speaker , that transforms words on a page into a powerful and impactful spoken narrative.

What makes a good speech?

A great speech includes several key qualities, but three fundamental elements make a speech truly effective:

Clarity and purpose

Remembering the audience, cohesive structure.

While other important factors make a speech a home run, these three elements are essential for writing an effective speech.

The main elements of a good speech

The main elements of a speech typically include:

• Introduction: The introduction sets the stage for your speech and grabs the audience's attention. It should include a hook or attention-grabbing opening, introduce the topic, and provide an overview of what will be covered.
• Opening/captivating statement: This is a strong statement that immediately engages the audience and creates curiosity about the speech topics.
• Thesis statement/central idea: The thesis statement or central idea is a concise statement that summarizes the main point or argument of your speech. It serves as a roadmap for the audience to understand what your speech is about.
• Body: The body of the speech is where you elaborate on your main points or arguments. Each point is typically supported by evidence, examples, statistics, or anecdotes. The body should be organized logically and coherently, with smooth transitions between the main points.
• Supporting evidence: This includes facts, data, research findings, expert opinions, or personal stories that support and strengthen your main points. Well-chosen and credible evidence enhances the persuasive power of your speech.
• Transitions: Transitions are phrases or statements that connect different parts of your speech, guiding the audience from one idea to the next. Effective transitions signal the shifts in topics or ideas and help maintain a smooth flow throughout the speech.
• Counterarguments and rebuttals (if applicable): If your speech involves addressing opposing viewpoints or counterarguments, you should acknowledge and address them. Presenting counterarguments makes your speech more persuasive and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Conclusion: The conclusion is the final part of your speech and should bring your message to a satisfying close. Summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and leave the audience with a memorable closing thought or call to action.
• Closing statement: This is the final statement that leaves a lasting impression and reinforces the main message of your speech. It can be a call to action, a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or a memorable anecdote.
• Delivery and presentation: How you deliver your speech is also an essential element to consider. Pay attention to your tone, body language, eye contact , voice modulation, and timing. Practice and rehearse your speech, and try using the 7-38-55 rule to ensure confident and effective delivery.

While the order and emphasis of these elements may vary depending on the type of speech and audience, these elements provide a framework for organizing and delivering a successful speech.

How to structure a good speech

You know what message you want to transmit, who you’re delivering it to, and even how you want to say it. But you need to know how to start, develop, and close a speech before writing it. 

Think of a speech like an essay. It should have an introduction, conclusion, and body sections in between. This places ideas in a logical order that the audience can better understand and follow them. Learning how to make a speech with an outline gives your storytelling the scaffolding it needs to get its point across.

Here’s a general speech structure to guide your writing process:

• Explanation 1
• Explanation 2
• Explanation 3

How to write a compelling speech opener

Some research shows that engaged audiences pay attention for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Other estimates are even lower, citing that people stop listening intently in fewer than 10 minutes . If you make a good first impression at the beginning of your speech, you have a better chance of interesting your audience through the middle when attention spans fade. 

Implementing the INTRO model can help grab and keep your audience’s attention as soon as you start speaking. This acronym stands for interest, need, timing, roadmap, and objectives, and it represents the key points you should hit in an opening. 

Here’s what to include for each of these points: 

• Interest : Introduce yourself or your topic concisely and speak with confidence . Write a compelling opening statement using relevant data or an anecdote that the audience can relate to.
• Needs : The audience is listening to you because they have something to learn. If you’re pitching a new app idea to a panel of investors, those potential partners want to discover more about your product and what they can earn from it. Read the room and gently remind them of the purpose of your speech. 
• Timing : When appropriate, let your audience know how long you’ll speak. This lets listeners set expectations and keep tabs on their own attention span. If a weary audience member knows you’ll talk for 40 minutes, they can better manage their energy as that time goes on. 
• Routemap : Give a brief overview of the three main points you’ll cover in your speech. If an audience member’s attention starts to drop off and they miss a few sentences, they can more easily get their bearings if they know the general outline of the presentation.
• Objectives : Tell the audience what you hope to achieve, encouraging them to listen to the end for the payout. 

Writing the middle of a speech

The body of your speech is the most information-dense section. Facts, visual aids, PowerPoints — all this information meets an audience with a waning attention span. Sticking to the speech structure gives your message focus and keeps you from going off track, making everything you say as useful as possible.

Limit the middle of your speech to three points, and support them with no more than three explanations. Following this model organizes your thoughts and prevents you from offering more information than the audience can retain. 

Using this section of the speech to make your presentation interactive can add interest and engage your audience. Try including a video or demonstration to break the monotony. A quick poll or survey also keeps the audience on their toes. 

Wrapping the speech up

To you, restating your points at the end can feel repetitive and dull. You’ve practiced countless times and heard it all before. But repetition aids memory and learning , helping your audience retain what you’ve told them. Use your speech’s conclusion to summarize the main points with a few short sentences.

Try to end on a memorable note, like posing a motivational quote or a thoughtful question the audience can contemplate once they leave. In proposal or pitch-style speeches, consider landing on a call to action (CTA) that invites your audience to take the next step.

How to write a good speech

If public speaking gives you the jitters, you’re not alone. Roughly 80% of the population feels nervous before giving a speech, and another 10% percent experiences intense anxiety and sometimes even panic. 

The fear of failure can cause procrastination and can cause you to put off your speechwriting process until the last minute. Finding the right words takes time and preparation, and if you’re already feeling nervous, starting from a blank page might seem even harder.

But putting in the effort despite your stress is worth it. Presenting a speech you worked hard on fosters authenticity and connects you to the subject matter, which can help your audience understand your points better. Human connection is all about honesty and vulnerability, and if you want to connect to the people you’re speaking to, they should see that in you.

1. Identify your objectives and target audience

Before diving into the writing process, find healthy coping strategies to help you stop worrying . Then you can define your speech’s purpose, think about your target audience, and start identifying your objectives. Here are some questions to ask yourself and ground your thinking : 

• What purpose do I want my speech to achieve? 
• What would it mean to me if I achieved the speech’s purpose?
• What audience am I writing for? 
• What do I know about my audience? 
• What values do I want to transmit? 
• If the audience remembers one take-home message, what should it be? 
• What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do after I finish speaking? 
• What parts of my message could be confusing and require further explanation?

2. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for tailoring your speech effectively. Consider the demographics of your audience, their interests, and their expectations. For instance, if you're addressing a group of healthcare professionals, you'll want to use medical terminology and data that resonate with them. Conversely, if your audience is a group of young students, you'd adjust your content to be more relatable to their experiences and interests. 

3. Choose a clear message

Your message should be the central idea that you want your audience to take away from your speech. Let's say you're giving a speech on climate change. Your clear message might be something like, "Individual actions can make a significant impact on mitigating climate change." Throughout your speech, all your points and examples should support this central message, reinforcing it for your audience.

4. Structure your speech

Organizing your speech properly keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your ideas. The introduction should grab your audience's attention and introduce the topic. For example, if you're discussing space exploration, you could start with a fascinating fact about a recent space mission. In the body, you'd present your main points logically, such as the history of space exploration, its scientific significance, and future prospects. Finally, in the conclusion, you'd summarize your key points and reiterate the importance of space exploration in advancing human knowledge.

5. Use engaging content for clarity

Engaging content includes stories, anecdotes, statistics, and examples that illustrate your main points. For instance, if you're giving a speech about the importance of reading, you might share a personal story about how a particular book changed your perspective. You could also include statistics on the benefits of reading, such as improved cognitive abilities and empathy.

6. Maintain clarity and simplicity

It's essential to communicate your ideas clearly. Avoid using overly technical jargon or complex language that might confuse your audience. For example, if you're discussing a medical breakthrough with a non-medical audience, explain complex terms in simple, understandable language.

7. Practice and rehearse

Practice is key to delivering a great speech. Rehearse multiple times to refine your delivery, timing, and tone. Consider using a mirror or recording yourself to observe your body language and gestures. For instance, if you're giving a motivational speech, practice your gestures and expressions to convey enthusiasm and confidence.

8. Consider nonverbal communication

Your body language, tone of voice, and gestures should align with your message . If you're delivering a speech on leadership, maintain strong eye contact to convey authority and connection with your audience. A steady pace and varied tone can also enhance your speech's impact.

9. Engage your audience

Engaging your audience keeps them interested and attentive. Encourage interaction by asking thought-provoking questions or sharing relatable anecdotes. If you're giving a speech on teamwork, ask the audience to recall a time when teamwork led to a successful outcome, fostering engagement and connection.

10. Prepare for Q&A

Anticipate potential questions or objections your audience might have and prepare concise, well-informed responses. If you're delivering a speech on a controversial topic, such as healthcare reform, be ready to address common concerns, like the impact on healthcare costs or access to services, during the Q&A session.

By following these steps and incorporating examples that align with your specific speech topic and purpose, you can craft and deliver a compelling and impactful speech that resonates with your audience.

Tools for writing a great speech

There are several helpful tools available for speechwriting, both technological and communication-related. Here are a few examples:

• Word processing software: Tools like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other word processors provide a user-friendly environment for writing and editing speeches. They offer features like spell-checking, grammar correction, formatting options, and easy revision tracking.
• Presentation software: Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides is useful when creating visual aids to accompany your speech. These tools allow you to create engaging slideshows with text, images, charts, and videos to enhance your presentation.
• Speechwriting Templates: Online platforms or software offer pre-designed templates specifically for speechwriting. These templates provide guidance on structuring your speech and may include prompts for different sections like introductions, main points, and conclusions.
• Rhetorical devices and figures of speech: Rhetorical tools such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and parallelism can add impact and persuasion to your speech. Resources like books, websites, or academic papers detailing various rhetorical devices can help you incorporate them effectively.
• Speechwriting apps: Mobile apps designed specifically for speechwriting can be helpful in organizing your thoughts, creating outlines, and composing a speech. These apps often provide features like voice recording, note-taking, and virtual prompts to keep you on track.
• Grammar and style checkers: Online tools or plugins like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor help improve the clarity and readability of your speech by checking for grammar, spelling, and style errors. They provide suggestions for sentence structure, word choice, and overall tone.
• Thesaurus and dictionary: Online or offline resources such as thesauruses and dictionaries help expand your vocabulary and find alternative words or phrases to express your ideas more effectively. They can also clarify meanings or provide context for unfamiliar terms.
• Online speechwriting communities: Joining online forums or communities focused on speechwriting can be beneficial for getting feedback, sharing ideas, and learning from experienced speechwriters. It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and improve your public speaking skills through collaboration.

Remember, while these tools can assist in the speechwriting process, it's essential to use them thoughtfully and adapt them to your specific needs and style. The most important aspect of speechwriting remains the creativity, authenticity, and connection with your audience that you bring to your speech.

5 tips for writing a speech

Behind every great speech is an excellent idea and a speaker who refined it. But a successful speech is about more than the initial words on the page, and there are a few more things you can do to help it land.

Here are five more tips for writing and practicing your speech:

1. Structure first, write second

If you start the writing process before organizing your thoughts, you may have to re-order, cut, and scrap the sentences you worked hard on. Save yourself some time by using a speech structure, like the one above, to order your talking points first. This can also help you identify unclear points or moments that disrupt your flow.

2. Do your homework

Data strengthens your argument with a scientific edge. Research your topic with an eye for attention-grabbing statistics, or look for findings you can use to support each point. If you’re pitching a product or service, pull information from company metrics that demonstrate past or potential successes. 

Audience members will likely have questions, so learn all talking points inside and out. If you tell investors that your product will provide 12% returns, for example, come prepared with projections that support that statement.

3. Sound like yourself

Memorable speakers have distinct voices. Think of Martin Luther King Jr’s urgent, inspiring timbre or Oprah’s empathetic, personal tone . Establish your voice — one that aligns with your personality and values — and stick with it. If you’re a motivational speaker, keep your tone upbeat to inspire your audience . If you’re the CEO of a startup, try sounding assured but approachable. 

4. Practice

As you practice a speech, you become more confident , gain a better handle on the material, and learn the outline so well that unexpected questions are less likely to trip you up. Practice in front of a colleague or friend for honest feedback about what you could change, and speak in front of the mirror to tweak your nonverbal communication and body language .

5. Remember to breathe

When you’re stressed, you breathe more rapidly . It can be challenging to talk normally when you can’t regulate your breath. Before your presentation, try some mindful breathing exercises so that when the day comes, you already have strategies that will calm you down and remain present . This can also help you control your voice and avoid speaking too quickly.

How to ghostwrite a great speech for someone else

Ghostwriting a speech requires a unique set of skills, as you're essentially writing a piece that will be delivered by someone else. Here are some tips on how to effectively ghostwrite a speech:

• Understand the speaker's voice and style : Begin by thoroughly understanding the speaker's personality, speaking style, and preferences. This includes their tone, humor, and any personal anecdotes they may want to include.
• Interview the speaker : Have a detailed conversation with the speaker to gather information about their speech's purpose, target audience, key messages, and any specific points they want to emphasize. Ask for personal stories or examples they may want to include.
• Research thoroughly : Research the topic to ensure you have a strong foundation of knowledge. This helps you craft a well-informed and credible speech.
• Create an outline : Develop a clear outline that includes the introduction, main points, supporting evidence, and a conclusion. Share this outline with the speaker for their input and approval.
• Write in the speaker's voice : While crafting the speech, maintain the speaker's voice and style. Use language and phrasing that feel natural to them. If they have a particular way of expressing ideas, incorporate that into the speech.
• Craft a captivating opening : Begin the speech with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention. This could be a relevant quote, an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question.
• Organize content logically : Ensure the speech flows logically, with each point building on the previous one. Use transitions to guide the audience from one idea to the next smoothly.
• Incorporate engaging stories and examples : Include anecdotes, stories, and real-life examples that illustrate key points and make the speech relatable and memorable.
• Edit and revise : Edit the speech carefully for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure the speech is the right length and aligns with the speaker's time constraints.
• Seek feedback : Share drafts of the speech with the speaker for their feedback and revisions. They may have specific changes or additions they'd like to make.
• Practice delivery : If possible, work with the speaker on their delivery. Practice the speech together, allowing the speaker to become familiar with the content and your writing style.
• Maintain confidentiality : As a ghostwriter, it's essential to respect the confidentiality and anonymity of the work. Do not disclose that you wrote the speech unless you have the speaker's permission to do so.
• Be flexible : Be open to making changes and revisions as per the speaker's preferences. Your goal is to make them look good and effectively convey their message.
• Meet deadlines : Stick to agreed-upon deadlines for drafts and revisions. Punctuality and reliability are essential in ghostwriting.
• Provide support : Support the speaker during their preparation and rehearsal process. This can include helping with cue cards, speech notes, or any other materials they need.

Remember that successful ghostwriting is about capturing the essence of the speaker while delivering a well-structured and engaging speech. Collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to achieving this.

Give your best speech yet

Learn how to make a speech that’ll hold an audience’s attention by structuring your thoughts and practicing frequently. Put the effort into writing and preparing your content, and aim to improve your breathing, eye contact , and body language as you practice. The more you work on your speech, the more confident you’ll become.

The energy you invest in writing an effective speech will help your audience remember and connect to every concept. Remember: some life-changing philosophies have come from good speeches, so give your words a chance to resonate with others. You might even change their thinking.

Understand Yourself Better:

Big 5 Personality Test

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

How to not be nervous for a presentation — 13 tips that work (really!)

Use a personal swot analysis to discover your strengths and weaknesses, is being ego driven damaging your career being purpose-driven is better, put out-of-office messages to work for you when you’re away, how to send a reminder email that’s professional and effective, what’s a vocation 8 tips for finding yours, setting goals for 2024 to ring in the new year right, how to say farewell to a colleague: 35 ways to say goodbye, 9 elevator pitch examples for making a strong first impression, how to write an executive summary in 10 steps, 18 effective strategies to improve your communication skills, 8 tips to improve your public speaking skills, the importance of good speech: 5 tips to be more articulate, how to pitch ideas: 8 tips to captivate any audience, how to give a good presentation that captivates any audience, anxious about meetings learn how to run a meeting with these 10 tips, writing an elevator pitch about yourself: a how-to plus tips, 6 presentation skills and how to improve them, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

• Platform Overview
• Integrations
• Powered by AI
• BetterUp Lead™
• BetterUp Manage™
• BetterUp Care®
• Sales Performance
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Case Studies
• Why BetterUp?
• About Coaching
• Find your Coach
• Career Coaching
• Communication Coaching
• Personal Coaching
• News and Press
• Leadership Team
• Become a BetterUp Coach
• BetterUp Labs
• Center for Purpose & Performance
• Leadership Training
• Business Coaching
• Contact Support
• Contact Sales
• Privacy Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Trust & Security
• Cookie Preferences

What Is a Speech?

Speech generator.

Most people find it difficult to write a speech for themselves. This is because sometimes, whatever is written on print might sound different when said aloud. There’s always the struggle of proper pronunciation and diction, not to mention the fact that delivering a speech can be a a very nerve-racking experience for anyone.

There’s no denying that it’s probably not for everybody. But most of the time, we’re forced to make it anyway. In order for an individual to give an effective speech , one must construct it well and deliver it with confidence.

A speech is a form of verbal or nonverbal communication that is delivered for a given purpose. Good speech communication serves as an important aspect for many professions in terms of promoting proper communication between individuals.

Some speech examples are given during special occasions, such as a wedding speech and a valedictorian speech , while others are made for formal business gatherings.

How to Start a Speech with Power and Confidence

The common misconception about giving a good keynote speech is that it’s a skill that you’re supposedly born with. Obviously, this is not always the case. It’s a skill that you develop overtime through constant practice.

It’s natural to get nervous, everyone does, although it’s not always obvious. This is because it’s all in the mind, if you have a positive mindset then you’re sure to develop the confidence you need. It’s all about believing in yourself, despite all the uncertainties.

Stand straight. Chin up. And look straight at your audience.

This will give you a sense of dominance. Not only that, you would also need to have a certain tone in your voice. When you speak with power, people will want to listen to what you have to say. Whether it’s a motivational speech or a leadership speech , establish your credibility by giving a speech with power and confidence.

Tips for Giving a Killer Speech

• Picture everyone in their underwear. Metaphorically speaking, picturing your audience in their underwear would mean to strip them away from how you perceive them, which could probably be a group of monsters who are watching your every move.
• Interact with your audience. There’s nothing more interesting than watching a speaker engage the audience into being a part of the conversation.
• Observe proper posture. Body language is everything. This will allow you to deliver your speech in word with a high level of confidence.
• Avoid dead air. People who are nervous tend to forget the words to say. If this happens, skip this point and come back to it when you remember.

Importance of Speech

A  speech examples comes in various forms, all having a specific purpose. The best part about a speech is that it demands to be heard. Whatever a speaker has to say plays a significant purpose for the audience.

It allows the speaker to deliver a message, while the audience listens attentively. Speech in pdf also contributes to human development. It is a continuous learning process that helps develop an individual’s communication skills.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Tips for writing a Speech on the value of teamwork

How to create a Speech for advocating for climate change action

20 Types of Figures of Speech, With Definitions and Examples

Writing is a craft. If you think of yourself as a craftsperson, then words are your raw materials, and figures of speech are one of your tools. A figure of speech is a creative use of language to generate an effect. Some figures of speech, like metaphor, simile, and metonymy, are found in everyday language. Others, like antithesis, circumlocution, and puns take more practice to implement in writing. Below are some common figures of speech with examples, so you can recognize them and use them in your writing.

Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

What is a figure of speech?

Language that uses figures of speech is known collectively as figurative language . You will find examples of figurative language in novels, poems, essays, and plays. The opposite of figurative language is literal language . Literal language is the type of straightforward writing you’ll find on road signs, in office memos , and in research papers .

20 types of figures of speech

1 alliteration.

Alliteration is the repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a memorable or melodic effect.

Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.

2 Antithesis

Antithesis is a literary technique that places opposite things or ideas next to one another in order to draw out their contrast.

Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .” —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

3  Apostrophe

Apostrophe as a figure of speech is when a character addresses someone or something that isn’t present or cannot respond. The character might speak to someone deceased, an inanimate object, or a concept.

Example: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” — William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

4  Circumlocution

Circumlocution is the use of a purposely wordy description. You can think of it as talking in circles.

Example: In the Harry Potter series, most characters don’t say Lord Voldemort’s name; instead, they use this circumlocution: “He Who Must Not Be Named.”

An epigram is a clever and memorable statement. You will find epigrams in speeches , poetry , and at the front of a book.

Example: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

6 Euphemism

A euphemism is a way to say something in an understated manner, often to avoid difficult topics—like money, death, or sex.

Example: Death can be an uncomfortable subject, so we’ve developed many euphemisms to avoid confronting it head-on. Rather than telling a friend that a relative died, you might say they “kicked the bucket,” “passed away,” or are “no longer with us.”

7 Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration that adds emphasis, urgency, or excitement to a statement.

Example: If I don’t eat soon, I’m going to die of hunger.

Irony is a situation that subverts a reader’s expectations.

Example: One of the characters in your story is a hypochondriac, always convinced that they have an exotic and uncurable disease. An ironic ending for that character would be if they died of a common cold.

Litotes use a double negative to create a positive.

Example: You’re not wrong.

10 Metaphor

A metaphor is the direct comparison of dissimilar things to create more vivid imagery or understanding.

Example: He was an onion; to understand him, she had to peel back the layers.

11 Metonymy

Metonymy is a literary device in which a word or object stands in for a closely related word or object. Metonymy gives a writer more variability with descriptions.

Example: I thought his movies were better when they weren’t so Hollywood.

12 Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it means.

Example: When a character is exasperated, they might exclaim, “Sheesh!” That’s both a word to show exasperation and a sound that happens when you sigh loudly.

13 Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a phrase that uses two contradictory words to create a new meaning.

Example: That strawberry cake was awfully good.

A paradox is a statement that appears to contradict itself but contains some truth, theme, or humor.

Example: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” —George Orwell, Animal Farm

15 Personification

Personification is assigning human attributes to nonhuman things.

Example: The floorboards groaned under the weight of each step.

16 Pleonasm

Pleonasm is the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning. A writer might use pleonasm for humor or emphasis, or they might not realize they’re using extra words at all.

Example: The burning fire warmed the whole house.

A pun is a form of wordplay that purposely substitutes words that sound similar but have different meanings.

Example: “‘Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice and sighing. ‘It is a long tail, certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail; ‘but why do you call it sad?’” —Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

A  simile compares two dissimilar things using “like” or “as.” The goal of simile is to give the reader a more vivid understanding of something.

Example: It was the first real day of summer, and by the time she came back indoors, she was as red as a tomato.

19  Synecdoche

Synecdoche is when a smaller unit is used to signify a larger unit or vice versa.

Example: New England won the game by a touchdown. (Here, New England means New England’s football team.)

20 Understatement

Understatement is the intentional downplaying of a situation. This can create a humorous or deadpan effect in writing.

Example: “I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” —J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

Figures of speech examples in literature

Figures of speech are around us all the time (and that’s not hyperbole!), but it’s the deliberate deployment of them that makes writing stand out (did you catch that alliteration?). Below are examples of figures of speech in literature and poetry.

Metaphor in “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom

In her poem “Caged Bird,” Maya Angelou uses the extended metaphor of caged and free birds to display the difference between Black and White Americans.

Antithesis in Beloved by Toni Morrison

“Sethe,” he says, “me and you, we got more yesterday than anybody. We need some kind of tomorrow.”

In this passage, Paul D. speaks to Sethe and insists she quit dwelling on her past. Morrison uses antithesis to contrast yesterday and tomorrow, which is much more effective than simply saying Sethe should stop focusing on the past.

Personification in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson

Because I could not stop for Death

He kindly stopped for me.

By writing that death “kindly stopped” for her, Emily Dickinson uses personification to make the concept of death more vivid and tangible. The thought of death stopping by gives it an ominous but cordial tone, as if Dickinson treats it as an acquaintance.

Figures of speech FAQs

A figure of speech is a deliberate manipulation of ordinary language in order to create a literary effect.

What are the different kinds of figures of speech?

There are hundreds of figures of speech, which can be divided into schemes and tropes . Schemes are figures of speech that rearrange word order for a certain effect, while tropes use words in a way that differs from their literal meaning.

How are figures of speech used in writing?

Figures of speech are used in every type of writing to achieve different effects. Which figure of speech you use depends on what effect you want to have on the reader. For example, if you want to create more vivid imagery, you might use simile, metaphor, or antithesis. If you want to give them a laugh, you might try using a pun.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Parts of speech

The 8 Parts of Speech | Chart, Definition & Examples

A part of speech (also called a word class ) is a category that describes the role a word plays in a sentence. Understanding the different parts of speech can help you analyze how words function in a sentence and improve your writing.

The parts of speech are classified differently in different grammars, but most traditional grammars list eight parts of speech in English: nouns , pronouns , verbs , adjectives , adverbs , prepositions , conjunctions , and interjections . Some modern grammars add others, such as determiners and articles .

Many words can function as different parts of speech depending on how they are used. For example, “laugh” can be a noun (e.g., “I like your laugh”) or a verb (e.g., “don’t laugh”).

Table of contents

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions
• Interjections

Other parts of speech

Interesting language articles, frequently asked questions.

A noun is a word that refers to a person, concept, place, or thing. Nouns can act as the subject of a sentence (i.e., the person or thing performing the action) or as the object of a verb (i.e., the person or thing affected by the action).

There are numerous types of nouns, including common nouns (used to refer to nonspecific people, concepts, places, or things), proper nouns (used to refer to specific people, concepts, places, or things), and collective nouns (used to refer to a group of people or things).

Ella lives in France .

Other types of nouns include countable and uncountable nouns , concrete nouns , abstract nouns , and gerunds .

Check for common mistakes

Use the best grammar checker available to check for common mistakes in your text.

Fix mistakes for free

A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun. Pronouns typically refer back to an antecedent (a previously mentioned noun) and must demonstrate correct pronoun-antecedent agreement . Like nouns, pronouns can refer to people, places, concepts, and things.

There are numerous types of pronouns, including personal pronouns (used in place of the proper name of a person), demonstrative pronouns (used to refer to specific things and indicate their relative position), and interrogative pronouns (used to introduce questions about things, people, and ownership).

That is a horrible painting!

A verb is a word that describes an action (e.g., “jump”), occurrence (e.g., “become”), or state of being (e.g., “exist”). Verbs indicate what the subject of a sentence is doing. Every complete sentence must contain at least one verb.

Verbs can change form depending on subject (e.g., first person singular), tense (e.g., simple past), mood (e.g., interrogative), and voice (e.g., passive voice ).

Regular verbs are verbs whose simple past and past participle are formed by adding“-ed” to the end of the word (or “-d” if the word already ends in “e”). Irregular verbs are verbs whose simple past and past participles are formed in some other way.

“I’ve already checked twice.”

“I heard that you used to sing .”

Other types of verbs include auxiliary verbs , linking verbs , modal verbs , and phrasal verbs .

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. Adjectives can be attributive , appearing before a noun (e.g., “a red hat”), or predicative , appearing after a noun with the use of a linking verb like “to be” (e.g., “the hat is red ”).

Adjectives can also have a comparative function. Comparative adjectives compare two or more things. Superlative adjectives describe something as having the most or least of a specific characteristic.

Other types of adjectives include coordinate adjectives , participial adjectives , and denominal adjectives .

An adverb is a word that can modify a verb, adjective, adverb, or sentence. Adverbs are often formed by adding “-ly” to the end of an adjective (e.g., “slow” becomes “slowly”), although not all adverbs have this ending, and not all words with this ending are adverbs.

There are numerous types of adverbs, including adverbs of manner (used to describe how something occurs), adverbs of degree (used to indicate extent or degree), and adverbs of place (used to describe the location of an action or event).

Talia writes quite quickly.

Other types of adverbs include adverbs of frequency , adverbs of purpose , focusing adverbs , and adverbial phrases .

A preposition is a word (e.g., “at”) or phrase (e.g., “on top of”) used to show the relationship between the different parts of a sentence. Prepositions can be used to indicate aspects such as time , place , and direction .

I left the cup on the kitchen counter.

A conjunction is a word used to connect different parts of a sentence (e.g., words, phrases, or clauses).

The main types of conjunctions are coordinating conjunctions (used to connect items that are grammatically equal), subordinating conjunctions (used to introduce a dependent clause), and correlative conjunctions (used in pairs to join grammatically equal parts of a sentence).

You can choose what movie we watch because I chose the last time.

An interjection is a word or phrase used to express a feeling, give a command, or greet someone. Interjections are a grammatically independent part of speech, so they can often be excluded from a sentence without affecting the meaning.

Types of interjections include volitive interjections (used to make a demand or request), emotive interjections (used to express a feeling or reaction), cognitive interjections (used to indicate thoughts), and greetings and parting words (used at the beginning and end of a conversation).

Ouch ! I hurt my arm.

I’m, um , not sure.

The traditional classification of English words into eight parts of speech is by no means the only one or the objective truth. Grammarians have often divided them into more or fewer classes. Other commonly mentioned parts of speech include determiners and articles.

• Determiners

A determiner is a word that describes a noun by indicating quantity, possession, or relative position.

Common types of determiners include demonstrative determiners (used to indicate the relative position of a noun), possessive determiners (used to describe ownership), and quantifiers (used to indicate the quantity of a noun).

My brother is selling his old car.

Other types of determiners include distributive determiners , determiners of difference , and numbers .

An article is a word that modifies a noun by indicating whether it is specific or general.

• The definite article the is used to refer to a specific version of a noun. The can be used with all countable and uncountable nouns (e.g., “the door,” “the energy,” “the mountains”).
• The indefinite articles a and an refer to general or unspecific nouns. The indefinite articles can only be used with singular countable nouns (e.g., “a poster,” “an engine”).

There’s a concert this weekend.

If you want to know more about nouns , pronouns , verbs , and other parts of speech, make sure to check out some of our language articles with explanations and examples.

Nouns & pronouns

• Common nouns
• Proper nouns
• Collective nouns
• Personal pronouns
• Uncountable and countable nouns
• Verb tenses
• Phrasal verbs
• Types of verbs
• Active vs passive voice
• Subject-verb agreement

A is an indefinite article (along with an ). While articles can be classed as their own part of speech, they’re also considered a type of determiner .

The indefinite articles are used to introduce nonspecific countable nouns (e.g., “a dog,” “an island”).

In is primarily classed as a preposition, but it can be classed as various other parts of speech, depending on how it is used:

• Preposition (e.g., “ in the field”)
• Noun (e.g., “I have an in with that company”)
• Adjective (e.g., “Tim is part of the in crowd”)
• Adverb (e.g., “Will you be in this evening?”)

As a part of speech, and is classed as a conjunction . Specifically, it’s a coordinating conjunction .

And can be used to connect grammatically equal parts of a sentence, such as two nouns (e.g., “a cup and plate”), or two adjectives (e.g., “strong and smart”). And can also be used to connect phrases and clauses.

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked, what is a collective noun | examples & definition.

• What Is an Adjective? | Definition, Types & Examples
• Using Conjunctions | Definition, Rules & Examples

More interesting articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles | When to Use "The", "A" or "An"
• Ending a Sentence with a Preposition | Examples & Tips
• What Are Prepositions? | List, Examples & How to Use
• What Is a Determiner? | Definition, Types & Examples
• What Is an Adverb? Definition, Types & Examples
• What Is an Interjection? | Examples, Definition & Types

Get unlimited documents corrected

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

Disorganized Speech: Signs, Causes, and How to Cope

Communication can be a window into your thoughts, making it an important clue in understanding possible mental health conditions.

Almost everyone experiences moments of confusion. You might have a word on the tip of your tongue and you just can’t get it out, or maybe you’ve forgotten where you’re going with a conversation.

Many things can impact thought clarity, but disorganized speech that prevents you from daily communication may be a sign of something more than forgetfulness.

Disorganized speech is also known as “formal thought disorder” since language is the primary way to detect changes in your thought patterns.

What is disorganized speech?

Disorganized speech is any interruption that makes communication difficult — and sometimes impossible — to understand.

Brief disorganized speech can be common and nonspecific, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) .

But if it becomes severe enough to prevent effective communication, you may be experiencing formal thought disorder.

What’s formal thought disorder?

Disorganized speech is used interchangeably with “formal thought disorder.” This is because scattered communication is one of the primary ways disorganized thinking is identified.

Simply put, if your thoughts aren’t clear, your words may not be either.

Types and examples of disorganized speech

There are many ways your speech might be considered disorganized, but symptoms often fall into categories:

• Symbolism: pairing of thoughts with the correct meaning
• Tempo: the fluidity of words and conversation
• Processing: quality of thought content
• Continuity: direction of thought and conversation

Examples of specific types of disorganized speech may include:

• Paralogism: unusual word choice
• Verbal paraphasia: incorrect word usage
• Literal paraphasia: disordered sounds or sound sequence in words
• Neologism: creation of new words
• Displacement: citing a similar idea but not the correct one
• Contamination: fusing ideas into one another
• Accelerated thinking: rapid flow and increased volume of speech
• Flight of ideas: losing track of where a thought is going
• Inhibited thinking: slow processing of ideas
• Alogia: restricted speech and/or inadequate relay of information
• Circumstantial thinking: inability to determine essential information from unessential
• Desultory thinking: random topic jumps during conversation
• Derailment: sudden drop in train of thought
• Omission: inability to recall a main thought point
• Overinclusive thinking: conversation limits are never identified
• Echolalia: repetition of words or phrases
• Palilalia: fast repetition of words or phrases with decreasing audibility
• Thought blocking: Sudden gaps in thought for no obvious reason
• Verbigeration: nonsensical repetition of words
• Incoherence: complete speech disorganization; “word salad”

Signs of disorganized speech patterns

There’s no “one size fits all” way to describe disorganized speech. At its core, it can be any language-focused symptom that impairs communication.

If you’re experiencing disorganized speech, you may notice speech patterns related to:

• unexpected pauses
• incorrect words
• unusual pronunciation
• loss of thought placement
• lack of words
• excess of words
• slow or absent word processing

Possible causes

The exact cause of disorganized speech is still being investigated.

As a symptom closely associated with mental health conditions, disorganized speech may be partially due to differences in the central nervous system.

Language and words are skills you learn. They’re stored in your memories.

Many of the mental health conditions that feature symptoms of disorganized speech involve changes in regions of the brain related to memory, speech, and language.

Some 2017 research suggests changes in neural connectivity in these areas could affect communication.

If you’re unable to form the proper connections in the part of the brain that grants access to language memories, you may not be able to organize your thoughts into words.

Other factors may also influence disorganized speech. Times of extreme stress , anxiety, or fear could cause an interruption in your natural speech patterns.

Related mental health conditions

Disorganized speech is most commonly linked to schizophrenia — particularly disorganized schizophrenia .

But experiencing disorganized speech doesn’t necessarily point to schizophrenia in all cases.

Schizophrenia is a diagnosable mental health condition in the DSM-5. Disorganized speech is a symptom but not a disorder on its own.

In addition to schizophrenia, other mental health conditions that may present with symptoms of disorganized speech include:

• dementia (neurocognitive disorder)
• schizoaffective disorder
• bipolar disorder
• delusional disorder
• traumatic brain injury
• schizotypal personality disorder
• schizophreniform disorder
• some types of depression
• psychotic disorder
• Alzheimer’s disease
• attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• attenuated psychosis syndrome

Social anxiety

Living with disorganized speech can affect how you interact with those around you and may cause social problems for some.

Dealing with disorganized speech might generate feelings of frustration and irritation — for you and those who don’t understand that you’re experiencing something out of your control.

Over time, you may develop a tendency to isolate yourself. Worry and anxiety over when disorganized speech may happen next can keep you at home.

Treatment and management

Seeking professional treatment can be one of the best ways to learn to manage disorganized speech and see an improvement.

Treatment largely depends on addressing the underlying condition causing disorganized speech as a symptom.

Seeking treatment for a traumatic brain injury, for example, may be significantly different than treatment for bipolar disorder .

Your physician or therapist can help identify why you’re experiencing disorganized speech. If a mental health condition is contributing, successful treatment may involve:

• medications
• psychotherapy
• self-care or lifestyle changes

The medication you’re prescribed and the type of therapy recommended will depend on the condition your physician and therapist feel is at the heart of your symptoms.

Coping with disorganized speech

Aside from medications and therapy , there are many other strategies for coping with disorganized speech.

Self-care and simple lifestyle changes that can help you manage disorganized speech include:

• Social support: building a supportive network of understanding family and friends, joining support groups
• Building communication skills: participating in discussion groups around building social skills, developing alternative communication options with your therapist or counselor
• Medical self-care: staying on track with taking medications as directed, attending appointments regularly for the entire treatment protocol
• Lifestyle changes: developing stress-relief options and relaxation techniques, trying to eat a nutritious diet, focusing on sleep hygiene, exercising regularly, spending time outside

Disorganized speech can present in many different ways and may even prevent effective communication if it progresses. And while it can be a symptom of many mental health conditions, disorganized speech is not a diagnosis in itself.

Living with disorganized speech can be frustrating and may even cause social anxiety, stress, and isolation in some people.

However, disorganized speech can be managed with the proper treatment, which often involves addressing conditions causing this symptom.

Working with your doctor or physician to tailor a treatment plan to you is often the best first step. Depending on any underlying conditions, treatment plans for disorganized speech commonly involve a combination of:

• self-care and lifestyle changes

It’s not always easy to reach out for help with mental health conditions. If you’re ready to seek support but don’t know where to start, check out Psych Central’s guide to mental health help.

10 sources collapsed

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
• Ban T. (n.d.). Glossary: Formal disorders of thought. https://inhn.org/archives/ban-collection/glossary-formal-disorders-of-thoughts.html
• Cokal D, et al. (2018). The language profile of formal thought disorder. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41537-018-0061-9
• Disorganized speech. (n.d.). https://dictionary.apa.org/disorganized-speech
• Disorganized symptoms of psychosis. (n.d.). https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Disorganized-Symptoms-of-Psychosis-Slides.pdf?daf=375ateTbd56
• Hart M, et al. (2017). Rethinking thought disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5464106/
• Jeronimo J, et al. (2018). Formal thought disorders — historical roots. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00572/full
• Nordgaard J, et al. (2021). Formal thought disorder and self-disorder: An empirical study. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.640921/full
• Solomon M, et al. (2008). Formal thought disorder and the autism spectrum: relationship with symptoms, executive control, and anxiety. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5519298/
• Wensing T, et al. (2017). Neural correlates of formal thought disorder: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5685170/

Read this next

Here's the definition of alogia, and how poverty of speech may relate to some mental health conditions.

The types of schizophrenia are no longer in used in a clinical diagnosis, but can be helpful in forming a treatment plan. Let's learn about the former…

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that involves extreme mood shifts. With the right treatments and coping methods, people can often manage…

Alzheimer's disease causes a decline in your cognitive functioning. The main causes are brain-based changes, and there are various risk factors that…

The symptoms of major neurocognitive disorder — previously called dementia — can involve problems with attention, memory, or social skills. Learn more…

Figuring out which type of depression you have can help you find the treatment that fits best. Learn about depression types, symptoms, and treatments.

Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions and hallucinations, and is generally treated by medications and psychotherapy. Learn more about…

You can manage symptoms of bipolar disorder on your own, in addition to professional support. Here are some of the best self-care strategies.

If social situations make you feel anxious and stressed, you could be experiencing social anxiety. Here’s how social anxiety symptoms impact your mind…

You may be ready to find a therapist but unsure what type of psychotherapy works. Here's what to know about the different approaches and techniques.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of speech in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

speech noun ( SAY WORDS )

• She suffers from a speech defect .
• From her slow , deliberate speech I guessed she must be drunk .
• Freedom of speech and freedom of thought were both denied under the dictatorship .
• As a child , she had some speech problems .
• We use these aids to develop speech in small children .
• banteringly
• bull session
• chew the fat idiom
• conversation
• shoot the breeze idiom
• touch base idiom
• tête-à-tête

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

speech noun ( FORMAL TALK )

• talk She will give a talk on keeping kids safe on the internet.
• lecture The lecture is entitled "War and the Modern American Presidency".
• presentation We were given a presentation of progress made to date.
• speech You might have to make a speech when you accept the award.
• address He took the oath of office then delivered his inaugural address.
• oration It was to become one of the most famous orations in American history.
• Her speech was received with cheers and a standing ovation .
• She closed the meeting with a short speech.
• The vicar's forgetting his lines in the middle of the speech provided some good comedy .
• Her speech caused outrage among the gay community .
• She concluded the speech by reminding us of our responsibility .
• call for papers
• deliver a speech
• maiden speech
• presentation
• public speaking
• talk at someone

speech | American Dictionary

Speech noun ( talking ), examples of speech, collocations with speech.

These are words often used in combination with speech .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of speech

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

serious and determined, especially too serious and unable to find your own actions funny

Simply the best! (Ways to describe the best)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• speech (SAY WORDS)
• speech (FORMAL TALK)
• speech (TALKING)
• Collocations
• Translations
• All translations

To add speech to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add speech to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.

Advertisement

Supported by

Biden Will Pass the Torch to Harris in His Convention Speech

President Biden and his top aides have spent days reworking his original address, which he expected to give as the Democratic nominee, for a new moment.

• Share full article

By Michael D. Shear

Reporting from Chicago

Follow the latest news on President Biden at the Democratic National Convention .

President Biden will headline the opening night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday with a valedictory speech that was supposed to have supercharged his final push for a second term but instead will serve as an opportunity to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Aides say Mr. Biden will use the speech to argue that Ms. Harris is the best person to carry on his legacy now that he is no longer in the race. Her candidacy as the party’s standard-bearer, he will argue, is the natural result of the choice he made four years ago to place her just a heartbeat away from the presidency.

That is not the case he expected to be making just over a month ago, before his stunning political demise following a debate performance in June that raised doubts about his age and vitality. Mr. Biden and his top aides, including Mike Donilon, his chief strategist, have spent the last several days reworking the speech for the new moment.

Mr. Biden will make only a brief appearance at the political celebration. His speech, which has a place of honor as the final one of the night, will begin just before 11 p.m. Eastern time. Around midnight, he and Jill Biden, the first lady, will fly to California for the start of a two-week vacation that will keep him out of the spotlight as Ms. Harris formally assumes her place as the new face of the Democratic Party.

The president will deliver his address to a convention hall filled with delegates who had been among his strongest supporters when he was a candidate. Organizers, who are decorating the hall with digital banners displaying common Bidenisms like “spread the faith,” expect an outpouring of affection for the 81-year-old president as he departs the stage.

But some are also bracing for potential disruptions among a few dozen uncommitted delegates who could use the speech as a moment to highlight their dissatisfaction with what they view as Mr. Biden’s lack of support for Palestinians in Gaza.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Markets News

What Fed Chair Powell's Jackson Hole Speech Could Mean for Markets

Colin is an Associate Editor focused on tech and financial news. He has more than three years of experience editing, proofreading, and fact-checking content on current financial events and politics. He received his M.A. in journalism from The New School and his B.A. in history and political science from McGill University.

David Paul Morris / Bloomberg / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will speak Friday morning at the Fed's annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium.
• Economists expect Powell to forgo committing the U.S. central bank to a specific path for monetary policy, although he could emphasize continued inflation risk after last week's strong economic data.
• Markets already have priced in a September interest-rate cut, potentially limiting the upside for stocks.

The highlight of this week will be the annual central bank symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which kicks off on Thursday night and runs through Saturday. And the show-stopper of that event, at least for Wall Street, is likely to be Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech, scheduled for 10 a.m. ET Friday. 

The annual symposium comes at a critical juncture for the U.S. economy . Interest rates have been at their highest level in decades for more than a year, pushing inflation down and slowing economic activity. The unemployment rate simultaneously has risen, giving Wall Street reason to believe the Fed will begin to cut interest rates in September. 

And the Fed has set the stage for interest-rate cuts. After years of focusing on inflation, policymakers have in recent months begun saying they're equally concerned with the strength of the labor market, the second component of the Fed’s dual mandate . Powell echoed those comments after the Fed’s most recent policy meeting. 

Investors will be looking to Powell’s speech on Friday for any hints about the trajectory of monetary policy , including the magnitude of the Fed’s first interest-rate cut in years and the potential pace of subsequent cuts. 

What Could Jerome Powell Say at Jackson Hole

Analysts don’t expect Powell’s speech to deviate too much from his press conference after July’s Fed meeting. 

“He will likely acknowledge that the Fed is prepared to ease quickly if labor markets deteriorate,” wrote Nomura analysts in a note on Friday. The health of the labor market was called into question earlier this month when data showed the unemployment rate jumped to 4.3% in July, triggering the Sahm Rule recession indicator. 

“That said, we expect his remarks to be more balanced than at the July press conference–noting upside inflation risks, as well,” the analysts added. 

Recession fears were quelled somewhat last week after a strong consumer spending report and a slight decrease in unemployment claims pointed to the economy’s resilience. 

Subsequently, markets settled into a relative calm as expectations for Fed rate cuts moderated. Last Monday, traders were pricing in a 50% chance of the Fed cutting rates by 50 basis points next month, according to federal funds rate futures trading data. Now, markets see just a 23% chance of a cut of that magnitude.

The market's quiet, Nomura notes, "should allow Powell to emphasize that the Fed can be patient and data-dependent, pushing back modestly on recent market pricing for an aggressive start to the easing cycle.”

Economists at Deutsche Bank wrote Monday that they expect Powell won’t “pre-commit to any particular rate-cut trajectory but [will] signal that the Fed has gained sufficient confidence that it will soon be appropriate to begin easing policy.”

How Will the Market React?

Even a dovish stance from Powell might not have much of an impact on the market.

Bank of America Securities analysts recently noted that the S&P 500 historically has had a limited reaction to Jackson Hole. Granted, there are exceptions: Stocks plummeted in 2022 after Powell struck a hawkish tone when addressing the need to restore price stability. 

But this year, they forecast, isn't likely to be exceptional. “With rate cuts already priced into the market, upside on even a dovish Jackson Hole speech is likely limited,” the analysts wrote.

Nomura Securities. “US Economic Weekly - Jackson Hole Ahead.”

CME Group. “ FedWatch Tool .”

Deutsche Bank. “Early Morning Reid - Aug. 19, 2024.”

Bank of America Securities. “ Trading Catalysts - Eyes on Jackson Hole, Minds on NVDA .” (Registration required.)

• Terms of Service
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices

Rich Lyons: What free speech, community mean to UC Berkeley

By Public Affairs

August 19, 2024

Chancellor Rich Lyons, following new guidance on campus free speech policies from the University of California Office of the President , shared this message with the campus community on Monday.

With a new academic year getting underway, I’ve been looking forward to sending my first back-to-school message, describing the amazing opportunities I see before us. While that will soon be sent, I have received new directives from the UC Office of the President regarding campus activism , and I want you to know what they mean for our community.

The email you received has a link to a letter from President Drake with information about what has been decided, and for me, the bottom line is that the directives are consistent with our existing practices and with our most important values.

First, our commitment to free speech , due to the law and also to our legacy, is and will remain unwavering and non-discretionary. At the same time, adherence to our time, place and manner rules will continue to ensure expressive activities do not interfere with the rights of others or with the operations of our university. We can and will continue to address violations of these rules in a carefully considered way in support of the greater good of our community. We will also continue to respond in a quick and concerted manner to violence, to violations of laws, and to words or deeds that rise to the level of harassment and/or discrimination . Behavior of that sort will not be tolerated.

At the very foundation of our rules, practices and values are the university’s seven essential principles of community.” Chancellor Rich Lyons

At the very foundation of our rules, practices and values are the university’s seven essential principles of community . With their call for civility and respect in our discourse, with their support for diversity of perspective, with their affirmation of every student’s ability to feel a true sense of belonging and a supportive campus environment, with their celebration of freedom of expression, these principles, if adhered to, uniquely provide for the coexistence of a strong community and strongly held beliefs.

Membership in our extraordinary community is something wonderful that we all have in common. We can fully enjoy the benefits of our community, that that community provides if we can debate and disagree without descending into identity-based condemnation. Without violence, harassment, or discrimination, without infringing on the rights of others, I trust you will join me in support of our values and principles. If we can work together, I have faith in our ability to rise to the challenges and opportunities before us. Thank you.

More information on new free speech guidance

Embracing our Principles of Community, honoring our legacy of free speech

Updates on UC-wide campus climate efforts

A letter from Michael Drake, UC system president

What does the ‘Night Night’ remark Warriors coach Steve Kerr made in his speech at the 2024 DNC mean?

Kerr took inspiration from nba and team usa star steph curry to send a message to republican candidate donald trump..

On Monday night, Steve Kerr made the transition from Team USA men’s basketball coach at the Olympic Games to speaker at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. And he took inspiration from Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, sending a defiant message to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as he showed his support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Looking ahead to when the outcome of the presidential election is known on November 5, Kerr offered a prediction: “After the results are tallied that night, we can, in the words of the great Steph Curry, we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night, night’”. The 58-year-old also did the obligatory ‘go to sleep’ gesture , tilting his head to one side and resting it on his hands.

Kerr: After the results are tallied that night, we can, in the words of the great Steph Curry, we can tell Donald Trump "Night, night." pic.twitter.com/aSowr4mbRF — Acyn (@Acyn) August 20, 2024

Why does Steph Curry do a ‘Night night’ celebration?

Curry first became known for the gesture during the 2022 NBA Championship playoffs, which the Warriors, who Kerr also coaches, won. The point guard usually performed it to celebrate scoring a three-pointer, which he believed was enough to kill his team’s opponents off in the game.

With the Warriors having underperformed in the last couple of seasons, we haven’t seen it in the NBA recently, although Curry brought it back while playing for the United States at the 2024 Olympics , famously hushing the home crowd during the final against France in Paris.

When asked about the gesture after Game 2 of the 2022 Western Conference Finals, Curry said, “ I have no idea . I don’t choreograph none of that stuff. I was just having fun. You talk about having kids. You know how bedtime routines are important. It’s the final signal for job well done that day. Pretty special.”

Kerr clearly hopes it will be a “job well done” for Democrat duo Harris and Walz when they take on former president Trump in the presidential election in November.