Communication Skills

Useful Phrases for Public Speaking




Here’s a categorized list of phrases to help you craft engaging, professional, and effective speeches. Use these phrases for openings, transitions, engaging your audience, handling questions, and delivering memorable closings.

1. Phrases for Opening a Speech

Greeting Your Audience

  • "Good [morning/afternoon], everyone. I’m delighted to be here today."
  • "Thank you for taking the time to join me. I’m thrilled to share [topic]."
  • "It’s an honor to speak with such a knowledgeable and engaged audience."

Starting with Impact

  • "Imagine a world where [describe a compelling scenario]."
  • "Did you know that [surprising statistic or fact]?"
  • "Let me tell you a quick story about [relevant anecdote]."

Setting the Context

  • "Today, I’ll be talking about [topic] and why it matters to all of us."
  • "In this session, we’ll explore [brief overview of main points]."
  • "By the end of this presentation, you’ll have a clear understanding of [key takeaway]."

2. Phrases for Transitions Between Points

Introducing a New Section

  • "Let’s move on to the next point: [topic]."
  • "Now that we’ve covered [previous point], let’s take a look at [next point]."
  • "This brings us to the next important area: [topic]."

Building on a Previous Point

  • "To build on what we just discussed…"
  • "This connects directly to [related point]."
  • "Another important aspect to consider is [next point]."

Highlighting Key Information

  • "This is a critical point, so let’s take a closer look."
  • "I want to emphasize this because it’s essential to understanding [topic]."
  • "Here’s why this matters: [explanation]."

3. Phrases for Engaging Your Audience

Asking Rhetorical Questions

  • "Have you ever wondered why [topic] is so important?"
  • "What would you do if you were in this situation?"
  • "How many of you have experienced [specific scenario]? Raise your hand."

Inviting Participation

  • "Take a moment to think about [specific scenario]."
  • "I’d love to hear your thoughts—what do you think about this?"
  • "Feel free to share your questions in the chat (for virtual settings) or during the Q&A."

Using Humor or Stories

  • "Let me share a funny story that relates to this point…"
  • "I think we can all relate to this: [describe a relatable situation]."
  • "Here’s a personal experience that really shaped my perspective on [topic]."

4. Phrases for Explaining Data or Visuals

Describing Visuals

  • "Take a look at this chart—it clearly shows [key insight]."
  • "This graph illustrates the trend we’ve been discussing."
  • "You’ll notice that [highlight a specific data point or pattern]."

Interpreting Data

  • "What this data tells us is [insight]."
  • "The takeaway here is clear: [key conclusion]."
  • "This shows a significant shift in [specific trend or issue]."

Making Comparisons

  • "Compared to [previous data], this highlights a major improvement."
  • "What’s interesting here is the difference between [data A] and [data B]."
  • "This demonstrates how [factor] impacts [outcome]."

5. Phrases for Handling Questions

Inviting Questions

  • "I’d be happy to answer any questions you have."
  • "Does anyone have questions about what we’ve covered so far?"
  • "Let’s open it up for questions—what’s on your mind?"

Clarifying a Question

  • "That’s a great question. Let me make sure I understand what you’re asking…"
  • "Could you elaborate on that point?"
  • "Are you asking about [specific aspect]? Let me explain."

Answering Questions

  • "Here’s what we’ve found: [answer]."
  • "Thank you for bringing that up—here’s how we’ve addressed this issue…"
  • "That’s an important consideration. Let me provide some context."

Deferring a Question

  • "That’s a fantastic question. I’d like to follow up with you after the presentation."
  • "We may not have time to dive into that now, but I’ll make sure to address it later."
  • "Let me research that further and get back to you with a more detailed response."

6. Phrases for Closing a Speech

Summarizing Key Points

  • "Let’s recap what we’ve covered today: [list main points]."
  • "To summarize, the key takeaways are…"
  • "In short, [summarize the central message]."

Ending with a Call-to-Action

  • "I encourage all of you to [specific action]."
  • "Let’s take what we’ve learned today and start making a difference in [specific area]."
  • "Your next step is simple: [action or behavior]. Let’s get started."

Leaving a Lasting Impression

  • "Let me leave you with one final thought: [memorable statement or quote]."
  • "Thank you for your time and attention—it’s been a pleasure speaking with you today."
  • "Together, we have the power to [inspiring message]. Let’s make it happen."

7. Phrases for Virtual Presentations

Engaging a Virtual Audience

  • "Can everyone hear me okay? Let me know if there are any issues."
  • "Feel free to drop your thoughts in the chat—I’d love to hear what you think."
  • "If this resonates with you, give me a thumbs-up emoji in the chat!"

Maintaining Connection

  • "Let’s take a quick poll—what’s your opinion on this?"
  • "I’ll pause here to give everyone a moment to reflect or ask questions."
  • "I know we’re virtual, but let’s keep this interactive. What are your thoughts?"

Concluding a Virtual Presentation

  • "Thank you for tuning in—I appreciate your time and participation."
  • "If you have additional questions, feel free to email me or connect on LinkedIn."
  • "Let’s stay in touch, and I’ll follow up with the slides and resources we discussed today."

8. Example Situations with Phrases

Scenario 1: Delivering a Persuasive Pitch

  • Opening: "Imagine doubling your productivity without increasing your workload."
  • Body: "Here’s how our solution makes that possible: [explain benefits]."
  • Closing: "Let’s partner together to make this vision a reality."

Scenario 2: Presenting Technical Data

  • Opening: "Today, we’ll break down complex data into actionable insights."
  • Body: "As you can see in this graph, [highlight trend]. This means [insight]."
  • Closing: "With this data in hand, we can make informed decisions moving forward."

Scenario 3: Motivating a Team

  • Opening: "Success is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Let’s focus on that today."
  • Body: "Here are three steps we can take to achieve our goals: [steps]."
  • Closing: "I believe in what we can accomplish together. Let’s get started."
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