10 minute speech written

Introducing Speech Time Calculate

Estimate how many minutes your speeches, presentations, and voice-over scripts will take based on your words per minute rate!

How To Speech Time Calculate Using This Tool?

If you have a certain number of words or a piece of text you want to time, you can either type in the word count or paste the text into the provided area. This tool will then calculate how long it would take to read that text out loud.

The talk time estimate is calculated using the average speaking speed of adults, which is determined to be 183 words per minute based on scientific studies. If you’re interested in how long it would take to read silently, it’s estimated at 238 words per minute ( This data is also backed by research )

You can adjust the slider to change the words per minute value, which will affect the talk time estimate. However, the silent reading time estimate remains fixed at 238 words per minute.

For ease of use, we’ve also provided reference points for slow, average, and fast reading rates below the slider.

To begin anew, simply click the ‘clear text’ button to erase the content and restore the slider back to its original setting of 183.

Who is This Words to Minutes Converter Tool For?

If you are a student wondering how long is my essay or you’ve been tasked with writing a speech and need to know how many words to aim for and how many minutes will it take to deliver or perhaps you are a podcaster, just starting out, who wants the ability to easily synchronize music and spoken word without having to painstakingly calculate seconds between them, then this Speech Time Calculate is precisely for you!

From now on, instead of spending long hours in front of the computer trying to figure out how many seconds it takes for one phrase or section of dialogue to end and another to begin, you can let our innovative tool do all the work and convert your text to time quickly and accurately. With this powerful tool at your disposal, whether you’re giving a TED talk or just need to nail a business presentation, your life will become a little bit easier.

So keep reading to learn more about what this fantastic words to minutes converter has in store for public speakers, aspiring students, and professional radio producers alike!

Whether you want to read the text silently or speak aloud, you can use this tool as both:

• Reading time calculator
• Talk time calculator

Explanation of the Reading Time

Reading time refers to the duration it takes for an average person to read a written text silently while still comprehending its content. Based on an extensive analysis of 190 studies that involved 18,573 participants , research conducted by Marc Brysbaert in 2019 suggests that the typical silent reading speed for an adult individual is approximately 238 words per minute .

To convert word count to read time for a specific text, you can do so by dividing the total word count of the text by this established value of 238. Here is the mathematical equation for determining the duration of reading time in minutes:

Reading Time = Total Word Count / 238

Explanation of the Speech Time

Speech time refers to the duration it takes for an average person to read a text out loud. Based on data from 77 studies involving 5,965 people , it’s been found that most adults read aloud at a speed of approximately 183 words per minute ( research conducted by Marc Brysbaert in 2019 ). To figure out how long it will take to read a specific piece of text aloud, you can divide the total number of words in the text by this average rate of 183 words per minute.

Of course, it’s important to note that talk time can vary depending on factors such as clarity of speech, pauses for emphasis, and use of visual aids. However, using this tool for converting the number of words to minutes can still provide a helpful guideline for planning and practicing your presentation. By having a better understanding of speech rates, you can ensure that your message is delivered effectively and efficiently.

Benefits of Using a Speech Time Calculate

Time management in presentations.

Effective time management during presentations is crucial to ensure the audience remains engaged and the information is accurately conveyed. This is where our words to speaking time converter comes in handy. By using this tool, presenters can easily determine how many words they need to include in their presentation to stay within the allotted time frame.

Not only does it help with time management, but it also ensures that the pacing of the presentation is consistent, making it easier for the audience to follow. With the use of this presentation time calculator, presenters can confidently deliver their presentations without the worry of running over time or rushing through it.

Estimated speech time for public speaking

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, especially when you have too little or too much information to fill your time slot. You wonder only if there were an accurate public speaking time calculator available so that you could be able to allocate the appropriate amount of time to each section of your presentation, ensuring that you cover all the necessary points without rushing or going over time.

Effective pacing is key in ensuring your message is delivered with clarity and impact.

Most public speakers target an average of 130-150 words per minute for their spoken content, meaning you should aim to limit your speaking time to roughly one minute per 130-150 words. While this may take some practice to achieve, the end result is a confident, well-timed delivery that keeps your audience engaged from start to finish.

Remember, in public speaking, less is often more—take your time to breathe and emphasize key points. Your audience will appreciate your thoughtful and measured approach. For that, you can use this tool and adjust your words to speech time.

Accurate estimations for audiobooks and podcasts

As more and more people turn to audiobooks and podcasts for their entertainment and information needs, accurate estimations of listening time have become more important than ever. After all, there’s nothing worse than settling in for a quick listen only to find yourself trapped in a story that goes on for hours longer than you anticipated.

That’s why it’s great to see publishers and podcast producers taking estimated reading time seriously, providing listeners with the information they need to choose the right content for their schedule. Whether you’re looking for a quick listen on your daily commute or a lengthy distraction for a lazy Sunday afternoon, accurate estimations using this words to speak time calculator make it easier than ever to find the perfect content.

Some Popular Speech Times

how many words in a 2 minute speech

Almost 300 words

how many words in a 3 minute speech

Almost 450 words

how many words in a 4 minute speech

Almost 600 words

how many words in a 15 minute speech

Almost 2250 words

The speech time is calculated taking 150 words per minute as reference value

Common conversions (average speed)

How long does it take to read 500 words?

3.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 750 words?

5.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 1000 words?

7.7 minutes

How long does it take to read 1200 words?

9.2 minutes

How long does it take to read 1500 words?

11.5 minutes

How long does it take to read 1800 words?

13.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 2000 words?

15.4 minutes

How long does it take to read 3000 words?

23.1 minutes

As the world becomes more fast-paced, time is a precious commodity. Determining how long your script will take to read, whether for a presentation or a video, can make a significant difference in engaging and retaining your audience’s attention.

That’s where our Words to Time Converter comes in handy. It’s a valuable tool for anyone working in various professions, from broadcast journalists to teachers to executives. No matter the industry, time is of the essence, and knowing how long your speech or presentation will take is crucial for effective communication.

• Master Workshops

How To Prepare For A Last-Minute, 10-Minute Speech

Just 10 or 15 minutes, you think. Not nearly enough time to do justice to the topic, but plenty of time to make a complete fool of myself if I don’t organize my thoughts carefully.

Last week I was sitting at the back of a large conference room watching an excellent presentation before about 100 managers at a global professional services organization. As the speech continued, I noticed a rather senior looking individual sitting close by who was scribbling furiously on the back of a piece of paper. It didn’t appear as if he was taking notes on the actual presentation, so I was curious what he might be doing. The speech at the front of the room continued, and several minutes later the presenter mentioned to the audience that he had just invited a colleague to speak on an important topic immediately before the next coffee break. The pieces came together in my mind…clearly the older gentleman next to me was the last minute guest, rapidly preparing the notes for his own upcoming presentation.

We’ve all been in this situation before: minding our own business at a meeting or a conference or a even an office holiday party . Shortly before the program begins, the chairman or organizer sends us a note saying something on the order of:

“It’s great that you are attending this meeting! You know, I was thinking about the plan for the day and it would be such a help if you could speak for just 10 or 15 minutes on [insert topic of your expertise.] I know its kind of last minute, but you’re a master at this material and I’m sure everyone would really appreciate the value of what you have to say.”

Need to quickly prepare a great speech? Download Ariel’s Focus Sheet for Speechwriting template .

You graciously accept (what choice do you really have?) and now, depending on the context and the topic, you have to manage a certain low level of anxiety for the next few hours until the moment comes to give your speech.

As I sat in the back of the room I found myself very curious to watch the unfolding drama before me. (At the same time, I was secretly relieved that it wasn’t me who had been recruited.) When the gentleman’s moment finally came, I was impressed at how well he handled it. Three things stood out, which strike me as worthy of remembering:

1. Prepare your notes—but don’t use them!

There is nothing wrong with writing out your speech. The mistake many people make is to then read the words right off the paper. That’s where you lose your audience. What made this speech work so well was the impression we got in the audience was that he was speaking spontaneously, which lent a certain credibility and aliveness to his words.

2. Paralysis of integrity

Don’t get caught in what an old teacher of mine once called the “paralysis of integrity.” In other words, if you hold too high a standard for yourself with regard to saying it exactly right, you risk losing your ability to engage your audience. Trust yourself and your experience with the topic at hand. You would not have been invited to speak in the first place if they thought you needed your notes!

3. Pretend you are chatting with a friend

The most important piece of advice I give my clients is that the larger the audience, the more important it is to relax and create the appearance of intimacy. Remember, it is physiologically impossible to make eye contact with more than one person at a time—so think of a 100 person audience as a series of simultaneous 1-1 conversations…like a chess master playing many games at once. Everyone in the group will feel that you are speaking to them and to them alone.

Do your employees need tips on how to give presentations with impact? Learn about our offerings here .

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via Email

Connecting Through Storytelling: Unleash the Power of Compelling Communication

Help your team increase its effectiveness by using storytelling to create authentic, meaningful, and memorable connections.

Ariel develops powerful and authentic communication skills to drive better performance for leaders and their teams. Whether you need to develop your next generation of leaders, connect global teams, build trusted relationships, or keep your workforce engaged and motivated, Ariel can tackle your most pressing business challenges. We ensure that everyone, from senior leaders to early career professionals, can write, speak, present, and build trusted relationships with every interaction.

Related Posts

How Many Words Are There in a 10 Minute Speech?

Some people speak slowly when giving a speech while others speak quickly. Those who speak quickly will need to write more words for each minute of their speech than those who speak at a slower pace. That being said, there are some general guidelines which can help you make an educated guess at approximately how many words will be needed for a speech.

The general rule for speech giving is 100 to 200 words per minute. With this in mind, a 10-minute speech would require 1,000 to 2,000 words . The WordCounter speaking time detail defaults 150 words per minute (an average speed which would give a result of 1,500 words, as this is the recommended speed for audiobooks to be read at for best listening), but you can use the options section to adjust to a slower or faster pace. Simply click on “Options” then the “Details” tab and then the wrench next to the “Speaking Time” button.

If want to know how many words per minute (WPM) you personally say when giving a speech, you can use a timer to time yourself, then input that number into the options section. Time yourself for one minute of your speech, then copy to where you made it into WordCounter to see how many words you speak per minute. This will give you a more accurate estimate of how many words you must write for however long the speech you need to make will be.

It’s important to remember that speech patterns can increase when a person is nervous. This means that even when determining the number of words needed for a 10-minute speech when practicing at home by yourself, you may actually need more during the actual speech if you get nervous.

While the number of words in a speech will depend heavily on how fast or slow the person giving the speech speaks, for those who are looking for a basic estimate of how many words would be in a speech, you can use the following estimates. These estimates use the average speaking pace of 150 words per minute to estimate.

How many words in a 1-minute speech? There are 150 words in a 1-minute speech. How many words in a 2-minute speech? There are 300 words in a 2-minute speech. How many words in a 3-minute speech? There are 450 words in a 3-minute speech. How many words in a 4-minute speech? There are 600 words in a 4-minute speech. How many words in a 5-minute speech? There are 750 words in a 5-minute speech. How many words in a 6-minute speech? There are 900 words in a 6-minute speech. How many words in a 7-minute speech? There are 1050 words in a 7-minute speech. How many words in an 8-minute speech? There are 1,200 words in an 8-minute speech. How many words in a 9-minute speech? There are 1,350 words in a 9-minute speech. How many words in a 10-minute speech? There are 1,500 words in a 10-minute speech. How many words in a 15-minute speech? There are 2,250 words in a 15-minute speech. How many words in a 20-minute speech? There are 3,000 words in a 20-minute speech. How many words in a 25-minute speech? There are 3,750 words in a 25-minute speech. How many words in a 30-minute speech? There are 4,500 words in a 30-minute speech. How many words in a 45-minute speech? There are 6,750 words in a 45-minute speech. How many words in a 1-hour speech? There are 9,000 words in a 1-hour speech.

How minutes is 250 words? 250 words is 1.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 500 words? 500 words is 3.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 750 words? 750 words is 5 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 1,000 words? 1,000 words is 6.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 1,500 words? 1,500 words is 10 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 2,000 words? 2,000 words is 13.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 2,500 words? 2,500 words is 16.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 3,000 words? 3,000 words is 20 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 4,000 words? 4,000 words is 26.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 5,000 words? 5,000 words is 33.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 7,500 words? 7,500 words is 50 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 10,000 words? 10,000 words is 66.67 minutes of speaking time.

(Photo courtesy of Scott Schiller )

How can you estimate the number of minutes a speech is going to be if you know you get nervous during the speech, but you don’t get nervous when you practice? That’s my problem. My speech needs to be 5 minutes, but 5 minutes when I practice won’t be long enough when I do the speech. I need to know how much faster it will be so I can write more. How do I calculate that?

There is no tried and true method to get the exact number of minutes it will take you to do a speech except to practice. Keep records of how long it takes you to do a speech when you practice, and then when you actually give a speech. After doing this a few times you should be able to estimate how much faster you speak when giving a speech than when you practice.

Well, I’m sure this is an estimate because the amount of words a person speaks will also be determined by how confident or nervous they are. Confident people can normally say more in less time than nervous people. It also depends on how many times they pause when they talk. There are a lot of different factors to consider.

i HEAVILY agree with this

Nervous people tend to speak faster because the fact that they are nervous. Confident people can adjust their speed of talking as they seem fit

Why does everybody speak so slowly? I speak at about 250 words per minute. All of you must speak like you are talking to a child that doesn’t understand what you are saying. I can’t believe that you waste so much time speaking slowly like that. Just learn to talk so that you’re not wasting other people’s time.

Seriously? Chances are you’re the person who is annoying everyone by talking so fast and always trying to get in an extra word like you did with your comment. Normal conversations don’t have to be spoken at bullet train speed. Before you call out other about how slowly they speak, you might want to look into the mirror and ask if you’re the one causing the issues with your opinionated nonsense.

I think I love you Giggy lol. Your comment made my night/year 🙂

Thank you. This will help me a lot in preparing for a speech I have to do at school. It’s good to know an estimate of how many words per minute my speech will take. At least that gives me a starting point when I put it together.

Happy to hear that this article was helpful to you for your speech. I hope that the speech goes well!

I hate giving speeches for class. I think they should be based on word count and not how long it takes to speak. Everyone should write 500 words and then it doesn’t matter how long the speech is because all students will say the same number of words. Should I really have to write more just because I speak fast?

Another way of looking at this is that you have the opportunity to say more in a given amount of time than your classmates because you are a fast speaker. This can give you an advantage over your fellow students by allowing you to say more in a shorter period of time. Instead of looking at the negative that you have to write more, look at it as the positive that you can see more.

I hate giving speeches as well. Some of us just aren’t good at it and it’s embarrassing having to look stupid in front of all our classmates. I’m dreading the speech I have to give next week 🙁

I just use a stopwatch while I read whatever I write and that’s how I can tell how long it’s going to take me to do my speech. I find that when I memorize the words, I speak a little faster than when I read so I have to take this into account as well. Anybody who wants to know how many words they need to write for a 10 min. speech should try the stopwatch method. It’s really the easiest way to figure it out.

This is fine if you have already written the speech, but it’s sometimes useful to have an estimate of how much you have to write when you begin to write the speech. That’s how I ended up at this article. I needed a general rule of thumb so I could have a word count goal when I started to write my speech.

Wow. This is very useful and would have really helped me out back when I was in school. We always had to write our speech and then just practice timing it so that we would know how long it was going to take. We all just tried to make it all last as long as possible since the topics were often quite difficult to spend so much time talking about.

I hate it when I have to give speeches for class. It’s the stupidest thing in the world and I think that it would be better if we just didn’t have to do it. Why do teachers want to make us stand up in front of the class and embarrass ourselves? When am I ever going to have to give a speech when I become an adult? I hate that I have to do this and try to figure out how much to write for this stupid class.

Welcome to life. There will be plenty of time you have to do things you don’t want to, and it only gets worse when you become an adult.

Very interesting but it will differ from person to person. Not everyone speaks in the same manner or with the same confidence and there are times when people will speak less due to stress. You have to know yourself and how stress affects your speaking to know how fast you will say things.

I think that was made abundantly clear in the article. Everyone speaks at a different pace, but the above explanation is a general estimate or approximation of how many words it will take to do a 10 min. speech ( for however long your speech happens to be).

I don’t understand why everybody gets so uptight when the estimates aren’t exactly what applies to them. They’re estimates folks.

Estimates matter because they’re useless if they don’t apply to you. What’s the use of trying to find out how many words are in a certain time speech if the estimates that are given aren’t accurate? It’s useless to give out estimates on how long different speeches are if those estimates aren’t accurate for most people.

Wow they weren’t useful for you. They may have been for others. Like me! “they’re useless if they don’t apply to you”. Great but what if they do apply. Goodbye have a good day.

My teacher wasn’t happy with me at all when my 5 min. speech was only 10 words long. In my defense, he never said how slowly we could speak when giving the speech. Apparently, one word every 30 seconds is slow enough to send you to detention…

This is actually pretty funny if it’s true. While you may have gotten detention, it will be a story that you will tell your friends throughout your life. Now, this isn’t something I suggest that other people do as you’re going to get a bad grade if you try it, but it’s also funny.

I guess it depends the reason you did this. If you did it just to be a pain to your teacher or because you didn’t want to do the work, it’s a pretty awful thing for you to do. On the other hand, if you were trying to be creative or make a relevant point, then I don’t have an issue with it. The reason why you do things has a big impact on whether your actions are worthwhile of just trolling.

I should try this in my class. That way I could go to sleep now and not stay up all night trying to write a speech that’s going to suck anyway. I think I will!

What if you need to know how many words are in a 4 – 5 minute speech and not a 4 minute speech or a 5 minute speech? There are two different numbers so which one should I use. I need to write a 4 – 5 minute speech for my class and I don’t know which number to use.

Not sure if this is real or somebody just trolling, but I’ll go ahead and answer it anyway. Everything listed above our estimates. How long it actually takes you to do the speech will very because you speak differently than all your other classmates. What you need to do is take the low number estimate (600 words for a 4 min. speech) and write that many words. Then reach what you have written well time yourself and see how long it takes. If what you have written is under 4 minutes, then you need to write more. If it’s over 4 minutes, but under 5 minutes, then your perfect, and if it’s over 5 minutes, you need to shorten it.

I just dropped by to let everyone know I HATE SPEECHES! I just needed to get that off my chest…

Even if you don’t like speeches, it’s worth getting better at them. It can help you tremendously in the real world. I suggest you check out toastmasters. Well worth it!

That was 72 words. We can see how over a hundred can be a problem for you. 😝

I don’t understand why speeches have to be within a time limit? Shouldn’t a speech go as long as it needs to to get the information across? If you limit the time or have a minimum amount of time it must be, then you are forcing the speech to be written to a time rather than being written for what needs to be said.

Time limits can make speeches better. If you have all the time in the world, you can ramble on about things that aren’t really relevant to the topic. A time limit forces you to hone in your speech on the really important points.

Exactly what I have been thinking this whole time! I always write a longer speech than the time that we’re supposed to write to. If the speech should be two minutes? Then I write one for 8 minutes. Is it supposed to be five minutes long? Then I’ll write one that’s twenty. My teachers (and my comrades) hate me for that, but even if I try to make it shorter it still becomes longer than allowed. I just can’t make a good speech without making it so long. It’s always easier to make a good argument/presentation/thought experiment if the text is longer. Time limits should really be forbidden.

I have the opposite problem, getting time limit/word count high enough. That’s why I support time limits and such, because they force me to write a good, well thought out speech.

It’s for people who are going to get kicked off the metaphorical and literal stage when time runs out. And people who get marked n speeches.

So, if my assignment is to write a 5 minute speech, I need to write 750 words?

So helpful!

this page was a blessing and saved me 40 minutes rather then reading and recording self for a screenplay, your a goddesses whoever wrote this page !!!!! 💖✨

I enjoyed reading this article but I am poor at speaking in front of people so what should I do to master at speaking

How long should à speech be? A professor of mine once said, “like skirts, long enough to cover the subject and short enough to make it interesting”. Granted he was thinking of gender as well, so very inappropriate in that way. However a skirt on any body, such as a kilt for instance, makes the same point.

Thanks for your very helpful information, and all the comments that follow. This is exactly what I needed to know.

Thank you! Now I know that my speech will take about 3 1/2 minutes!

Thank you for this article it helped me alot!

hi i was wondering if you knew how to get a speech to be 3-5 minutes long

Mine’s not so much a speech, but a bit for a station that needs to be 3 mins each. I was taught by my Writing for Broadcasting that 30 seconds is 85 words, and 1 minute is 185. NOT 150. This is now throwing me off and forcing me to do math I was ALWAYS horrible at even as a kid. Nice.

i said 2,000 words in 3 minutes.

READ SLOWER. Put breaks in your speech. For example, “Magnets produce a magnetic force called a magnetic field. [Pause] This field is invisible to the human eye but iron fillings can be used to show these fields. [Deep Breath] All magnets have two ends – a north pole and a south pole. Magnetism either attracts magnetic objects or pushes them away.” (Little House of Science 1) When you do something like this it will eventually help you to be a better speaker.

Wow they weren’t useful for you. They may have been for others. Like me! “they’re useless if they don’t apply to you”. Great but what if they do apply. Goodbye have a good day.

Vote: 5 1 Reply to boostedbonobo Lucas did this good thing

this is the reason i don’t like speeches you have to work extremely hard to actually get a good one and it can get V E R Y annoying.

I’m gonna test my speech right away, and those who think giving a speech to your classmates at school (like what i’m doing at the moment) really sucks. Maybe think of it as an opportunity to convince someone such as your teacher to do something.

I am 100% ok with speeches, and honestly, I find that they can be sort of fun. The only problem I have is delivering them. They always seem monotone and boring, and I have no idea why.

At first, I thought this was just a rig, but when I read my speech (practicing) it was actually kind of accurate! I just wanted to know, how did you find out? Just read speeches with those amount of words?

Popular Posts

• The Top 10 Most Difficult-to-Spot Writing Mistakes
• 4 Simple Tips for Great Writing
• Avoiding Wordiness: 330 Examples & What to Use Instead
• The Oxford Comma: The Splice of Life
• Who vs. Whom
• Affect vs. Effect
• How to Take Notes: The 10-Step Guide to Note-Taking (Infographic)
• CMOS vs. AP – Recent Changes & Comparison (Updated 1. Nov. 2021)
• The Daily Word Counts of 19 Famous Writers
• The Ideal Length of Everything You Write Online ( Infographic)

Recent Comments

• Philippa on The Ideal Length of Everything You Write Online ( Infographic)
• ligmaballs on Word Counter Reading Level Feature
• Thomas Paul on The Top 10 Most Difficult-to-Spot Writing Mistakes
• Adam on The Daily Word Counts of 19 Famous Writers
• Gladiolus Caladium on Word Counter Reading Level Feature

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

10-Minute presentations: How to Write, Design & Deliver (Complete Guide)

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation , Public Speaking

Presentations are an interesting way to introduce a new topic, perspective, or study to your audience. 10-minute presentations serve the same purpose but they come with a specified restriction on time.

When we see the word presentation, we instantly think of PPTs and while PPTs are used in many cases, some presentations are completely oral as well.

The number of speakers is another variable while presenting. It can be done individually like in the case of a job interview presentation or in a group setting like in the case of a college assignment. 

How long should a 10-minute presentation be?

Ideally, for 10-minute presentations, you should focus on adding 5-10 effective, crisp slides. And a speech of about 1000-2000 words should be enough to complete the presentation within 10 minutes.

However, there are no set rules while making a presentation which means that you are free to increase or decrease the number of slides in your presentation depending upon your pace of presenting.

Now when we talk about the pace of presenting, we mean the number of words you can speak in an understandable manner per minute. So, if you can speak 100-120 words per minute (adding the usual pauses), then a 1000–1200-word speech would be enough for your 10-minute presentation.

While we cannot point out an exact word count specifically catered for you in this blog, we can surely suggest you take up any piece of long article and go on reading it out loud while taking necessary pauses and timing it. It might give you an idea of your speed which in turn would help you gauge the perfect word count for your presentation.

Another factor that would define the way you present your topic is whether you are presenting it individually or in a group.

Individual Presentations

In Individual presentations, you are the one to shoulder your entire presentation’s responsibility. You can make use of effective PowerPoint presentation skills or use props to keep the audience engaged and interested in your presentation.

Further, it becomes extremely important for you to have sufficient knowledge about your topic, as in case of any doubts you are the only one to be questioned by the audience members.

Group Presentations

On the other hand, in group presentations, the responsibility to carry out an effective and good presentation falls on all group members. This calls for a lot of coordination which would require a ton of practice.

In groups, you can make use of skits to explain a certain phenomenon. Or maybe the use of coordinated props per speaker can also make your presentations more eye-catchy.

Further, involving your entire group to present rather than just 2 people doing it with beautifully placed content, will easily stand out to the audience.

The placement of your content could be in a para format wherein one person speaks a para followed by another one. Or one person can explain one subtopic followed by another; whatever suits best for your group.

A beautiful example of group presentations is the one by The minimalists .

It is a beautiful presentation because we see that while one person is speaking, the other enacts what is being said, thus making it an interesting presentation involving both speakers.

Tips for your 10-minute presentations

1. avoid information overload.

While it can be very tempting to add all the relevant information in your presentation, limiting it will turn out to be one of the best decisions taken by any presenter.

The reason is very simple, every individual has a very limited attention span and capacity to take in new information . 10-minute presentations exceed the average duration of attention span among humans which is 7 minutes.

If you bombard them with tons of information, chances are that they might feel exhausted and detached from your topic and presentation altogether.

2. Avoid reading from your slides

We know you might have heard this a gazillion times but here we are to say it again because it is very important. Avoid reading from your slides. As it might indicate your lack of understanding of the topic . It can also end up being a little boring for the audience to listen to something present in front of them that they can easily read themselves.

3. Give your audience an incentive to listen to you

It is always better to assume that your audience is not innately motivated to listen to your presentation and hence to give them a reason why listening to your presentation would be worth it.

Are you planning on discussing a new perspective on a widely-spoken topic? Are you trying to introduce new findings? Is your presentation trying to motivate the audience?

Whatever goal you wish to achieve through your presentation, make it known to the audience.

4. Try to offer something new

The very essence of presentations is to offer some new idea, perspective, or study to your audience. This holds especially true when your presentation is on a generic or widely-spoken topic like climate change.

5. Avoid exceeding the time limit

This goes without saying, avoid exceeding your time limit. If you know you have been given 10 minutes, either finish it by the time it hits the limit or better yet, finish it before time.

Everyone would appreciate you for finishing your presentation before time for sure.

6. Make it easy to understand

Another point that goes without saying is to make your content very easy for everyone in the audience to understand.

Try to tweak your presentation in a manner that is convenient for the youngest and the least experienced member to understand easily.  For if your presentation doesn’t reach your audience, it might not fulfill its very purpose.

Structuring 10-minute presentations

Just like we structure any speech, with a beginning, a middle, and an end, structuring your presentation follows a similar pattern.

In the initial few minutes or even seconds of your presentation, the audience might have decided whether they should listen to your presentation or will it be more fruitful to dive deep into their thoughts.

This is the reason why starting 10-minute presentations on a strong foot is emphasized so much. But again, there is no need to stress out about it.

Here are a few tips on how you can start your presentation:

1. Provocative statements

Provocative statements are the ones that try to shake some strongly held views of the audience. Reggie Rivers make use of a provocative statement in his TED talk that might help you understand its use better.

He begins by saying

If you want to achieve your goals, don’t focus on them.

The statement clearly goes against a belief we have grown up with; the idea that we should chase and focus on our goals in order to achieve them.

2. Hypothetical scenario

Starting with a hypothetical scenario includes the use of words like “Imagine” or “what if.” It gives your audience a chance to put themselves in a situation that you are about to address in your presentation.

An example of the same is given below.

Imagine you are going out for a drive with your friends. It is a little late and the roads are wet from the heavy shower that had surrendered only a few minutes ago. You are all singing and laughing. But then you look to your left only to realize two giant lights come close to you at lightning speed and you know at that moment you are going to die. That you are going to die in that crash. Then you hear a screech and *pause* the truck halts 5 cm from your car. That is exactly what someone with anxiety feels but unlike you, it doesn’t end within a few minutes; it persists for hours or even days.

3. Hard-hitting questions

While questions are one of the most widely used ways to open any speech or presentation, the task here is to open with a hard-hitting question.

A question that your audience probably doesn’t have an answer to, which you plan on providing them through your presentation.

Some examples of these would be:

• Is there anyone here who can give me the exact amount of microplastics they consumed during this week?
• Did you know that with the advancement in technology, there is a possibility that the organ transplanted to you in 20 years would not be from another human but from an animal?

Starting your presentation with props is the easiest and most creative way to start a presentation. The reason why it is creative is that you can use absolutely anything as a prop. Be it a plastic bottle, a jar full of waste, or even some hula hoops.

Once you have introduced yourself and your topic, you can go on to the next step: the main content of your presentation.

However, it isn’t just about presenting your points but how you present them that we will take a look into.  Presenting your topic in a more structured manner makes it easier for your audience to stay in tune with your presentation.

One of the formatting ways is the 3-pointer format . The idea behind using a 3-pointer structure is to divide your main content into 3 huge chunks or points. And while you are free to add more points, having 3 points makes it a tad bit easier to recall the information and to maintain a flow among the listeners.  

An example of using a three-pointer structure is this 5 slide presentation by Ashley Stahl where she talks about 3 key questions to unlock your authentic careers.

• What are you good at?
• What do people tell me I am good at?
• What is holding you back?

The closing remarks like the opening lines are quite important.

There are several ways in which you can close your presentation. But it takes more than a mere thank you to make it an effective closing remark for your presentation.

A few ways in which you can close 10-minute presentations are:

1. Fitting remark

A fitting remark or in simple terms a summary is where you revise what you just spoke in a couple of lines. It is better to keep it as short as possible as 10-minute presentations don’t give you enough tie to elaborate.

2. Calling for action

You can end your speech by instilling a sense of action and purpose among the audience members to make a difference. An amazing example of this is the speech by Leonardo DiCaprio. While it is a speech, you can observe his way of delivering the last couple of lines and inculcate the same in your presentation.

For more ways in which you can close your presentation check out our video on 5 Powerful Speech Closing Remarks for your next Presentation.

Designing 10-minute presentations

Designing your PowerPoint is as important as presenting your topic confidently and effectively.

A few dos and don’ts of designing your PPTs are:

Some amazing websites that will help you in making effective and aesthetically pleasing presentations are canva , Prezi , and more.

Best PowerPoint presentations on TED 

Some of the most innovative PowerPoint presentations we came across on Ted were the ones given by Tim Burton and Adam Grant.

1. Tim Burton

I can not emphasize how absolutely wonderful the Presentation by Tim is. A mix of information with tons of humor coupled with very entertaining visuals.

His confidence makes the presentation quite engaging and interesting to watch.

2. Adam Grant

Adam Grant like Tim Burton has made use of animated cartoons to make the statistical data quite entertaining. However, the way he presents his topic is a little different.

His presentation is filled with images and cartoons . When he states quantitative data, the font size and color are something that must be taken a look into. Further, the language that he includes in his PPT is very candid and informal.

Delivering 10-minute presentations

While you are trying to make your content crisp, 10 minutes may seem way too little; But when it comes to presenting it and speaking, 10 minutes is not that short of a time.

There are a few things that you can do so as to deliver your presentation in its most effective way.

1. Practice your presentation in chunks.

Chunks are the division of your main content into small parts. 5-to-9 chunks are easy to remember.

We are not encouraging you to memorize or rote learn your presentation. However, it is important to remember the flow in which you are supposed to be presenting. And for this dividing, your presentation into chunks to practice can help navigate you through your entire presentation.

This also raises the question that,

How Long Should You Practice for a Presentation?

It is advisable to practice your presentation at least 3 times and a maximum of 10-12 times . But as the old saying goes “Practice makes a man perfect,” you can practice as long as you feel you have perfected your presentation.

If you are looking for a specific time duration for which you should practice then, for a 10-minute presentation, 30 minutes to about An hour and a half should suffice.

For some amazing tips on how you can rehearse your presentations, check out 13 Tips For Rehearsing A Presentation .

2. Add a story or share a personal experience

Stories are a very binding way to let your point across. It adds a personal touch, especially if you are sharing your personal experience. It also gives the audience a chance to understand where you come from and maybe even relate to you.

The TED by Jarret J. Krosoczka is a wonderful presentation where he illustrates his story while talking about it to the audience.

The creative bend makes it a presentation worth remembering, don’t you think?

3. Engage the audience.

While it isn’t mandatory for you to add elements that would ensure that the audience stays engaged, adding it will only help in enhancing your and your audience’s experience (if time permits).

You can add a quiz , or a small game like spot a difference between the two pictures. you can also ask a question and take a poll by asking the audience members who agree to raise their hands.

4. Add humor to your presentations

Humor can be your friend or your enemy while presenting a topic. If you get it right, it can make your presentation an unforgettable one. At the same time, if you end up making jokes that the audience might not find funny or worst even derogatory, It may land you in some trouble.

One of the funniest and most energy-filled presentations I have come across was the one by Alexis Nikole Nelson and her take on Veganism. The way in which she makes use of the prop is another thing you must take a look into.

Add elements of credibility

Elements of credibility include stating facts and figures . You can also quote some renowned personalities . All these things would build the confidence of the audience in your presentation. It also works best to give a reality check. How do you ask?

Simple, when you state figures, you give them a clear picture of the situation.

An example of this is the use of statistics used by Randy Palisoc in his Ted talk “Math isn’t hard, it’s a language.”

26%..Thats is the percentage of US 12 graders who are proficient in math

Find the full video of the same below.

Famous 10-Minute Presentations

1. bill gates.

We might have all heard about Bill Gates and his talks or speeches on Climate Change. But this presentation was a little different.

Here, Bill Gates goes on to explain how teachers have not been receiving sufficient feedback which could’ve led to drastic changes in their teaching patterns.

He explains the wide disparity in feedback given to teachers through charts , thus providing a way to easily compare and evaluate one’s country’s performance to that of others.

His bidding statement ends on a positive note as it is filled with optimism. He says,

I am excited about the opportunity to give all our teachers the support they want and deserve. I hope you are too.

2. Vishaan Chakrabarti

Renowned Architect Vishaan Chakrabarti gives an insight into the need for sustainable housing to provide a roof over the head of additional 3 billion people who are expected to be born by 2100.

The presentation is particularly interesting for the way in which he has used the visuals and animations . The language is kept simple which makes it easy to understand even if you have no degree in architecture.

Topics for 10-minute presentations

Presentation topics for college students.

• Population explosion
• The increasing gap between Rich and Poor
• Virtual money as the next evolution in monetary exchange
• Diversification and blending of cultures
• Change in seeking entertainment post-pandemic
• Data is the new oil
• Are we prepared for the next pandemic?
• Electric Vehicles: Future of Transportation
• E-learning and the shift in the education system
• Veganism and sustainability
• Evolution of the fashion industry in the metaverse
• Legalization of cryptocurrencies
• Need for immediate action toward climate change
• Do your degrees define your success in life?
• Evolution in careers across the years

Presentation Topics for Interviews

• Overcoming fears can lead to success
• Diversification in the workplace and its impact on better decision making
• Right to work is a fundamental right
• Can a few jobs permanently start working from home?
• Women as leaders
• The rise in startup culture
• The increasing threat of data breach
• Influencer marketing and its advantages
• Employee motivation and its relation to monetary rewards
• Should employees be paid for working overtime
• Paternal leave and its benefits
• Building skills is more important than degrees
• The efficiency of a 4 day work week
• Benefits of going paperless to the organizations

Funny 10-minute presentation topics

• 11 ways to order a pizza
• Why you don’t need success
• Why be excellent when you can be mediocre?
• World’s worst Disaster: Crocs Heels
• Evolution of Dance: from Bellydance to TikTok dance
• Being an Adult: The Most challenging task
• Struggles of Being a Planned Child
• Alcohol fixes relationships
• How autocorrect ruins your life
• LOL: Only Socially Acceptable way to Avoid laughing
• If only I had the life I do on My Instagram
• 5 easy ways to make it out of the friendzone
• 3 Totally useless professions
• 6 ways to do absolutely nothing
• The Rise of Family Whatsapp Groups

You can also find more speech topics depending on the type of your speech. Check out Demonstrative Speech Topics , Informative Speech Topics , and Persuasive Speech Topics on our website to get some inspiration for your speech.

10-Minute presentation sample

Presentation on Sustainable Fashion

I want you to imagine the amount of water you drink in a day. Now imagine and tell me if you can do the math, how much water would you have consumed in 3 years?

Let me help you.

2720 liters of water.

Now how would you feel if I tell you that this also equal to the amount of water that went into making the t-shirt you quite stunningly adorn right now?

*Imitates mind being blown*

With a 4-fold increase in the production of clothes over the last 20 years, we cannot even imagine the extent to which it has penetrated the pollution index across the world. Every year, fast fashion brands release several micro collections against the ideal 2. So if you ever wondered how the store has a very different collection every time you step into H&M or Zara, you know now. In fact, In the US per person, approximately 35 kgs of textile waste are generated every year.

If this wasn’t enough, the extent of water pollution caused by Fast fashion is beyond imaginable. 22,000 toxic waste is released into rivers by tanneries in Bangladesh,

Every. Single. Day.

So, what is the most immediate action that you can take to switch to more sustainable styling?

I am going to introduce a mantra that has worked wonders for me when I felt overwhelmed about switching to sustainable fashion. The 4 Rs and No it isn’t Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

The 4 Rs for sustainable fashion are

Reduce your consumption of clothes. Has it ever happened that you end up buying a shirt only to realize you don’t a perfect pair of pants to wear with it? Or bought something that you found super cute but never touched once you got home? It’s okay! Don’t feel guilty, I have done that too.

But that can be avoided. A simple method is to ask yourself “Do I need this Now?” and “Will I be able to use it in the long run?” The answer to the second question will immediately direct you away from fast fashion brands that offer cheap quality clothing at a very affordable rate.

If the clothes you own can be repaired in any way, it is better to do that than jump on to buy a new one. There were many times when I repaired or redesigned my outfits. For example. this one time when I slipped in my yard and tore my jeans a little from the knee area. Guess the ground was desperate for me to own another pair of ripped jeans and so I did exactly that. The other time a friend of mine, an amazing artist got some splashes of paint on her pants, Any guess what we did with those pants?

Exactly! Splashed more paint over it. Now I know it may sound bizarre but that was a time when that was in trend.

The third option is to Resell your stuff or give it to someone else.

This is where our popular thrift stores come into the picture. You’ve got a piece of clothing that you are never going to wear? Why let it take up the space in your closet when you can easily make money out of it and get rid of it at the same time. But if you are more altruistic, you can even consider donating your not-so-frequently used clothes to those who need them. And I know for a fact that every brown person sitting here is a pro at both lending and receiving hand-me-downs.

Lastly and the most important of all is, to rethink your consumption of fashion. It is 2022. Some brands have dedicated their entire efforts to providing you with sustainable alternatives. You can choose to buy consciously.

For instance, Adidas’s future craft loop edition shoes are one such example of big brands trying to do their part in this battle of saving our planet from our species. Further, there are brands like Baggit that use vegan leather for all their products.

Then there are completely sustainable brands like Eco India that use the clothes thrown into landfills to make fashion statements that are both iconic as well as sustainable.

While I can talk about this for as long as my voice doesn’t give in, I guess I should cut it short.

Reduce, Repair, Resell and Rethink what you can do to make the change towards a healthier fashion choice. After all the industry thrives upon you and your impulsiveness, try not to give in to it.

So the idea is simple. Maintain your style but not at the cost of the planet.

Final Thoughts

Presentations are an effective mode of presenting your topic with creativity.

10-minute presentations however come with a restriction on time which makes it important to focus on crunching the information you plan to add and thus keeping it short.

The use of visuals can be effective in carrying out successful presentations, be it PPTs or props.

Sharing personal experiences, humor, or any other element that makes your presentation stand out would enhance your presentation and make it easier for the audience to recall the information shared by you.

Lastly, there is no right or wrong way of presenting.

The only way we know is to enjoy your presentation just as much as you would want the audience to enjoy listening to it.

If you feel like you need more personalized guidance on carrying out your presentation in a more effective and confident manner, Check out Frantically Speaking .

We will be more than happy to help you!

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

9 Tips for Writing a Maid of Honor Speech That Tugs at Heartstrings

How the 10,000-Hour Rule Applies to Public Speaking 

Go From Passive to Assertive with These 6 Top Tips

• [email protected]
• +91 98203 57888

Get our latest tips and tricks in your inbox always

Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved

Do you wonder how long it takes to deliver your speech?

This website helps you convert the number of words into the time it takes to deliver your speech, online and for free. This tool is useful when preparing a speech or a presentation. The number of minutes you will take is dependent on the number of words and your speed of speech, or reading speed.

Note: This calculator provides an indication only.

Enter details below

The overview below provides an indication of the minutes for a speech (based on an average reading speed of 130 words per minute):

• Words in a 1 minute speech 130 words
• Words in a 2 minute speech 260 words
• Words in a 3 minute speech 390 words
• Words in a 4 minute speech 520 words
• Words in a 5 minute speech 650 words
• Words in a 10 minute speech 1300 words
• Words in a 15 minute speech 1950 words
• Words in a 20 minute speech 2600 words
• How long does a 500 word speech take? 3.8 minutes
• How long does a 1000 word speech take? 7.7 minutes
• How long does a 1250 word speech take? 9.6 minutes
• How long does a 1500 word speech take? 11.5 minutes
• How long does a 1750 word speech take? 13.5 minutes
• How long does a 2000 word speech take? 15.4 minutes
• How long does a 2500 word speech take? 19.2 minutes
• How long does a 5000 word speech take? 38.5 minutes

New Courses Open for Enrolment! Find Out More

• 11 Tips for Giving a Great Speech

Chances are you’ll be asked to give speeches or presentations in classes at school. If you get involved in volunteer groups, brief speeches to open events or thank participants are a must. Then there are the speeches at events such as weddings, as well as speeches that you might have to give in the workplace. That amounts to the average person being required to give quite a lot of speeches, even if they don’t get involved in an area such as politics where the ability to give a good speech becomes even more important. You might also have suffered through quite a number of bad speeches from other people – whether that’s at family events where the microphone squeaks the whole way through or a school presentation where the headteacher can’t quite make the jokes work. If you don’t want to inflict the same sort of experience on others, here are our top tips for giving a great speech.

1. Practise your microphone technique

2. Keep it short

Particularly at something like a party or a wedding, no one will be unhappy if your speech runs a little short; it’ll just give them more time to investigate the canapés. If you are giving a speech for a class in school, and it’ll be assessed, you need to prioritise keeping it within the required time limits. But even under these circumstances, if you’ve been tasked – say – with giving a 10-15 minute speech, it’s usually better to come in nearer the 10 than the 15 minute mark. Put simply, even if your speech is terrible, your audience can probably tolerate it for 10 minutes. Much longer, and they’ll be struggling. This shouldn’t limit what you can cover; in the film Up , the whole of Carl and Ellie’s heartbreaking love story is told in under 12 minutes. Do you really need longer to make your points? Achieve brevity by writing out the speech you would give if you had all the time in the world, and then cut anything that seems extraneous or boring.

3. Consider what your audience wants to hear

If you are giving a speech in class because it’s your assignment, what your audience wants to hear is likely to be “the bell ringing for lunch”; you can’t help them there. But under other circumstances, consider what your audience wants to hear and what you want to say, and strive for there to be as much overlap as possible. In the context of a political speech, for instance, what you want to say might be why your party should receive votes; what your audience wants to hear is what your party would do for them, if they won power. Hopefully it should be possible to write a speech that meets both sets of needs, rather than focusing solely on whatever it is that you want to say and leaving your audience disappointed.

4. Pick a theme and stick to it

Here’s a goal for giving a speech: someone sitting near the back, who’s messing around on their phone for at least two-thirds of it and focusing mainly on how long it will be until lunch, should nonetheless be able to give a reasonably accurate answer to the question, “what was it about?” If you’re supposed to be giving a speech in defence of the nuclear deterrent, for example, both the topic and your position on it should be clearly identifiable. This means – to stick with the nuclear deterrent example – not talking for a while about jobs, and then the wider economy, and then the North-South divide, and then Scottish independence, and then Ukraine with a brief digression into South Ossetia before rounding off by squeaking out “and that’s why we should renew Trident!” seconds before you run out of time – no matter how relevant that cornucopia of topics may feel (and they are all relevant, albeit tenuously). It means that even if you do have to take a while to explain a more complex idea, you need to be concise, and bring it back to your theme as quickly as you can.

5. Speak slowly

Most people speak more quickly than they realise when they’re on stage, especially if they’re nervous. But no one will be able to follow your speech if you’re jabbering it out. Thankfully, this one is easy to fix with a little effort and practise. First of all, figure out how quickly you’re actually speaking: do a word count for your speech and then time yourself saying it. A fast speaker will speak at maybe 160 words per minute, a slow speaker at 100 wpm and an average speaker at 130 wpm. For a formal speech, you want to be speaking on the slow side. While this will vary by culture and environment, 120 wpm is a reasonable target to aim for; slow enough that everyone should be able to understand you, and fast enough that you hopefully won’t be sending them to sleep.

6. Tell a couple of jokes

This is a tricky tip because there are lots of pitfalls in the world of telling jokes. For instance, there’s the temptation to include an in-joke that three of your friends will understand and find hilarious, that is utterly baffling to everyone else in the room. Avoid this – if you include any jokes, witty references or anything along those lines, make sure they are accessible to everyone present. All the same, if you can manage a joke or two, it can be a useful way to break up a speech and retain the audience’s interest. A little self-deprecation (not too much!) or the use of classic joke formats such as “the scene was chaotic; it looked as if a bomb had hit and we didn’t know where to start on repairs – but that’s enough about the hen party…” work nicely even if you’re not very confident. Don’t turn it into a stand-up comedy sketch if you’re not a comedian, don’t wait for ages for laughter that’s not showing up, and don’t make jokes at the expense of anyone who you don’t know for sure can take it.

7. Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself if you need to

If you follow US or UK politics at all, you’ve probably heard some of these phrases recently: take back control, make America great again, long-term economic plan, son of a bus driver. Three of these have already led the party or people they’re associated with to electoral victory; the fourth remains to be seen. To take the ‘son of a bus driver’ as an example, this refers to Sadiq Khan, now Mayor of London. There can be hardly anyone in London who doesn’t know what their Mayor’s dad did for a living. Meanwhile, many of them probably can’t remember his rival Zac Goldsmith’s name, let alone anything he said during the campaign. The point is that repetition works. In pursuit of point 4, if you want people to remember your key theme, you’re going to have to say it more than once. Don’t assume that everyone will have paid attention to everything you’ve said, unless you’re in a classroom setting where they’ll get told off if they don’t.

8. Only use the visual aids you need

This tip applies to two things: PowerPoints and notes. If you can do without either (and your assignment allows it), then do. Every time you’re glancing over your notes or up at the screen, fiddling with the laptop to get the slide to move on, fighting with a video that isn’t working or struggling to read your own handwriting, is time that you’re not spending engaging with your audience. A well-written, clear speech delivered without notes is always going to be better than someone awkwardly reading aloud the bullet points on their PowerPoint slides. If you must do a presentation – for instance, because there are photos that need to be included – have as little text on it as possible, preferably none. That way, if there are people at the back who can’t really see the screen through the sea of heads in front of them, they’ll still be able to follow what you’re saying.

9. Get a friend to check for awkward mannerisms

Mannerisms that are entirely fine in normal life become awkward and strange when you’re speaking in public. Perhaps you’re inclined to fiddle with your hair or your cuffs, you rock back and forth on the balls of your feet, or you have a habit of reaching your hand to your cheek when you’re talking. No one would notice in everyday conversation, but when you’re on a stage, it’ll become all they’ll see. Some of this is easily avoidable – for instance, if you have long hair that you’re inclined to twirl or otherwise fiddle with, tie it up. For other mannerisms, get the critical friend who helped you sort out your microphone technique to tell you what they are, and do your best to suppress the more annoying ones.

10. Look around the room

Talking about eye contact usually has the effect of making normal eye contact a lot harder, and so does giving a speech. All of a sudden, you’re up on stage, and you have no idea what a normal way to look at a group of people is. Some speakers deal with this by picking a point in the middle distance and speaking to it; others by picking a particular person near to the back and addressing their entire speech at them. This is obviously no fun for that person, who probably spends the whole thing feeling extremely uncomfortable, but it’s not too weird for everyone else. Better still, though, if you can manage it, is to look slowly and steadily around the room, trying to make eye contact with a decent range of people, before returning to the middle distance for a while, rinse and repeat. This needs to be slow and steady, or you give the impression that you’ve just smelled smoke and are casting about for a fire exit before the stampede beings.

11. Don’t be scared of a good reaction

If your speech is genuinely engaging, funny, inspiring or any of the other things you might hope it would be, your audience will react to it. There might be laughter, or applause, or even a bit of cheering depending on the setting. This can be daunting because when you’re practising your speech in front of your bedroom mirror, there’s no way to prepare for it. And it’s where even the best speakers can go wrong, by launching straight into what they were going to say next without waiting for the laughter or applause to stop, or by looking painfully awkward while it’s going on. It’s a pitfall that’s mostly solved by being aware it might happen. If your audience is applauding you or otherwise reacting well, it’s OK to smile, look up, wait for them to stop and then keep going with your speech – it’s as simple as that. You could even throw in a “thank you” before you continue in the knowledge that it’s all going well. Image credits: microphones ; audience ; boy with microphone ; clock ; winding road ; enjoy a joke ; sticky notes ; 

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative
• Introduction
• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery
• How to make cue cards
• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
• Pronunciation
• Speaking rate
• How to use pauses
• Eye contact
• Body language
• Voice image
• Voice health
• Public speaking activities and games
• Blogging Aloud
• About me/contact

10-minute demonstration speech topics

100 + short 3-10 minute how to speech ideas

By:  Susan Dugdale  

If you've been asked to put together a 10 minute, or less, demonstration speech for your speech class, look these 'how-to' ideas over. They're perfect for preparing short show and tell presentations to teach a new task succinctly and quickly.

Use the quick links below to get around the page easily. The topics are arranged in four batches. Begin with 'Why demonstrate something simple and ordinary?'. It could save you a lot of time!

What's on this page

Why demonstrate something simple and ordinary.

• 25 10-minute demonstration speech topics

25 ideas for short how-to speeches

26 topics for show-and-tell speeches.

• 32 demonstrative topics for 3 to 10-minute speeches

How plan and prepare your demonstration speech

• Get an adaptable printable demonstrative speech outline

Other topics for demonstration speeches

Before you settle on a topic, please don't overlook demonstrating a skill or a process you regard as commonplace.

If we already know how to do something competently, we have an understandable tendency to dismiss whatever it is as far too simple, and too ordinary to turn it into a demonstration speech.

And yet, that assumption can be so wrong.

There are audiences who will want to know how to do some of the things we do so efficiently and easily, that we forget we had to learn how to do them in the first place!  Many of those things are on this list.

For instance, a group of people who don’t spend a lot of time online, could find why and how to set up a safe password valuable knowledge to have. It might stop them from being hacked!

Likewise teaching people who intend to explore the great outdoors, and haven't had much prior experience, how to use a portable gas stove safely is extremely useful.

Or showing parents of children with long hair how to plait it. That will save a lot of time and tears when it comes to brushing.

And I'll always be grateful to the person who showed me how to give medicine to my beloved cat, without being scratched to bits!

Think about your audience. What would be useful for them to know? Sharing something of real benefit and value will help keep them actively interested.  *

* For more on how to choose a great demonstration speech topic .

Return to Top

25 3 to 10-minute demonstration speech topics

Once you’ve got your topic be sure to collect a printable demonstration speech outline to help you prepare your speech. You’ll find the link for that at the foot of the page. The outline will help you efficiently plan, organize and deliver a well-structured speech.

Now here's the first batch of the 100, and more, topics. 

• How to set up a safe password
• How to avoid ID theft
• How to use Google docs well
• How to set up Google analytics on a website quickly
• How to create a simple presentation using Microsoft Powerpoint or Apple Keynote
• How to back up your important files
• How to set up a wifi connection
• How to report online bullying
• How to fill out online forms well
• How to clear cookies off your computer
• How to identify and report spam
• How to set up a Spotify account
• How to use online banking
• How to use a credit card responsibly
• How to use online grocery shopping to save
• How to defend yourself against a random personal physical attack
• How to pack a travel bag efficiently
• How to help someone who is choking
• How to lift heavy objects without damaging yourself
• How to make a perfect cup of tea
• How to shop for groceries efficiently in a supermarket
• How to use a dryer to make your own dried fruit
• How to can vegetables safely
• How to freeze excess produce
• How to make perfect fruit jam

• How to chop vegetables safely and quickly
• How to carve a chicken, turkey...
• How to store raw chicken in the fridge safely
• How to prepare a simple healthy meal from basic ingredients
• How to plan an affordable weekly dinner menu
• How to iron a shirt
• How to tie a neck tie
• How to sort laundry, use a washing machine and dry your clothes
• How to hand wash delicate fabrics
• How to use a knife and fork correctly
• How to use a pair of chop sticks properly
• How to know what cutlery to use when you’re at a formal dinner party
• How to plait long hair
• How to brush a long-haired dog or cat well
• How to brush your teeth correctly
• How to do a press up correctly
• How to choose a haircut to suit your face shape
• How to a jacket to suit your body shape
• How to dress well on a limited budget
• How to make a simple healthy dessert
• How to ice a cake simply and effectively
• How to upcycle a tee shirt
• How to mend a fallen hem
• How to sew on a button
• How to make a bookcase from recycled materials

• How make a simple personal budget
• How to grow kitchen herbs in a window box
• How to escape from a sinking car
• How to use a blanket to move heavy objects
• How to sharpen a knife
• How use a thermometer correctly
• How to use a compass
• How read a simple topographical map
• How to use a portable gas stove safely out of doors
• How to put out a stove top fire
• How to change a light bulb
• How to clear a blocked sink
• How to clean a bathroom well
• How to make a bed
• How to use the local public transport system
• How to hold a baby properly
• How to change a baby’s diaper
• How to dress a baby
• How to dress a wound
• How to make an emergency call
• How to administer first aid for burns
• How to treat hypothermia
• How to handle frostbite
• How to handle someone having a seizure
• How to use CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• How to shine a pair of shoes

32 demonstrative topics for 10-minute speeches

• How to book a taxicab
• How to arrange flowers in a vase
• How to sow flower or vegetable seeds
• How to re-pot an indoor plant
• How to take a cutting from a plant
• How to prune a rose
• How to dry or press flowers
• How to forage for edible plants
• How to set a mouse trap
• How to make good lecture notes
• How to set a meeting agenda
• How to run a meeting efficiently
• How to read body language – what shows a person is unsure, shy, angry, confident...
• How to effectively and easily join a conversation between people you don’t know at a gathering
• How to make a personalized greeting card – birthday, wedding, anniversary, Christmas...
• How to make paper flowers
• How to make touchstones for children
• How to make a personalized birthday crown
• How to make colorful party bunting
• How to make a yarn ball
• How to make finger puppets
• How to felt wool balls for a garland
• How to decoupage a box, tray...
• How to make a pasta necklace
• How to make personalized pencil and pen holders from tin cans
• How to mend a tear in a favorite piece of clothing
• How to organize your wardrobe, kitchen counter, pantry...
• How to give medicine to a cat or a dog safely
• How to see a situation from another person’s point of view
• How to encourage and practice creative thinking
• How to make a friendship bracelet
• How to make a family pinboard

To be really effective you'll want to plan and prepare your 'how-to' speech thoroughly - even if you know the subject inside out!

Demonstration speeches that haven't been thought through and practiced carefully have a nasty habit of suddenly sliding sideways super-fast. Then what you want to happen and what actually does are miles apart - two quite different things. 

To avoid that read  planning, preparation & delivery of your demonstration speech . 

Get the printable demonstration speech outline 

Click the link to access to printable demonstration speech outline .  (It goes to the same page on planning and preparation linked to above. While you are there be sure to read the FAQs, especially the information about cue cards. If you haven't given a demonstration speech before you'll find it useful.)

If you've not found the how-to speech idea you want here, here's the link to access four more pages of demonstration speech topics . Collectively, that's 100s of suggestions! They include soft skills: the skills we need to communicate well with each other.

speaking out loud 

Subscribe for  FREE weekly alerts about what's new For more see  speaking out loud  

Top 10 popular pages

• Welcome speech
• Demonstration speech topics
• Impromptu speech topic cards
• Thank you quotes
• Impromptu public speaking topics
• Farewell speeches
• Phrases for welcome speeches
• Student council speeches
• Free sample eulogies

From fear to fun in 28 ways

A complete one stop resource to scuttle fear in the best of all possible ways - with laughter.

Useful pages

• Search this site
• About me & Contact
• Free e-course
• Privacy policy

©Copyright 2006-24 www.write-out-loud.com

Designed and built by Clickstream Designs

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?

Types of Coaching

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

Find your coach

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 Many Pages Is A 10 Minute Speech

Have you ever been confronted with the task of creating your speech? Maybe you’ve been asked to give a talk of 10 minutes, and you’re thinking, “How many pages should my speech be?” This is a problem that afflicts numerous public speakers, regardless of whether they’re speaking to an audience in a classroom, a boardroom, or a large crowd. The art of crafting a perfect speech is a delicate balance between quality, content, and timing participation, and it all starts with the number of pages.

Speech length matters. A speech that’s too short will make your audience want more, while a lengthy one could lose the audience’s enthusiasm. The secret to a successful speech is to match its length with the purpose of the message, the audience, and the occasion. But how do you figure out the proper number of pages to use for 10 minutes of speech?

In this thorough guide, we’ll help you unravel the mysteries surrounding speech length. We’ll help you comprehend the various factors that affect the length of your speech, providing practical suggestions as well as providing answers to the enduring query: “How many pages is a 10-minute speech?”

If you’re an experienced or new public speaker, an undergraduate working on an assignment for class, or a professional who is gearing up for a crucial meeting, This guide will provide you with the information and tools required to deliver an engaging and well-timed speech that captivates your audience and creates a lasting impression. So, let’s take a dive and decode the art of writing and presenting.

Why Does Speech Length Matter

The length of the speech plays an important part in its overall impact and efficacy. Let’s explore why the length of a speech is important:

1. Audience Engagement

The focus that your viewers have is not infinite. If your presentation has too much length, you run the risk of losing their attention and focus. In contrast, If your speech is too condensed, your message might not be conveyed in a full way. The right balance will ensure that your audience stays fully engaged throughout the presentation.

2. Relevance to the Occasion

Every occasion requires different lengths of speeches. An eulogy for funerals, a business presentation, and a toast to the best man at a wedding have different deadlines. Making sure you tailor the length of your address to suit the event is an act to show respect, professionalism, and understanding.

3. Clarity and Message Retention

A well-structured speech must convey an ability to convey a concise, clear message. When your presentation is overly long, it may weaken the idea and cause it to be difficult for your audience to recall the most important information. A speech that is the right length can allow your speech to be remembered and easily understood.

4. Time Management

Making sure your speech is within the allocated timeframe is not only polite but it is also sensible. The schedules of events often require that speakers adhere to their time slots. Overstaying your time could cause disruption to the entire event.

5. Audience Satisfaction

A speech that is the appropriate length makes sure that the audience is satisfied but not overwhelmed. They should leave with a feeling of having gained new insights or been entertained by your words and not feel exhausted as is the case with long speeches.

6. Speaker’s Confidence

If you are confident that your speech is at the correct length, it improves your confidence as a speaker. It’s less likely that you’ll be rushed through your presentation or be worried about the time limit, which allows you to present your message with confidence and confidence.

In simple terms, speaking in a long, slender format is a crucial element of effective communication. When you understand the intricacies of the length of your speech it is possible to create speeches that are able to are memorable to your audience, make an impression that lasts, and accomplish your objectives. In the next section, we’ll examine the elements that affect speech length. We’ll also offer practical advice to help you figure out the number of pages you’ll need to cover a 10-minute talk.

How Many Pages Does An Hour-Long Speech

The amount of pages included in a speech lasting 10 minutes is dependent on several factors, including the speed at which the speaker speaks along with the font size, line spacing, as well as how much margin space. But a good guideline is that a speech of 10 minutes is approximately 1500 words. That means that the speech of 10 minutes will be around 3-4 pages, in the event that the speaker uses an acceptable line spacing and font size.

Here are some helpful tips to estimate the length of your speech:

• Talk at a moderate speed. A decent speaking speed is 125-150 minutes of words. If you speak at a high speed, the audience may not be able to follow your words. If you speak too slow, it could be difficult to keep their interest.
• Choose a font size that is standard, as well as line spacing. A 12-point font with lines that are double-spaced is ideal for the majority of speeches . This will make your speech easier to follow and read to your listeners.
• Use regular margins. One-inch margins all around are the best option for the majority of speeches. This gives your audience ample space to make notes or annotations.

Factors Affecting Speech Length

Speech length isn’t a universal idea. It varies on a variety of variables. In order to craft the ideal speech for your event, be aware of the following aspects that affect speech length:

1. Audience

Your audience plays an important influence in determining your ideal speech length. Take into consideration their level of experience with the subject their level of attention, and what they expect from the presentation. For example, the presentation of technical information to experts could provide more depth of information, whereas people with a broad audience may prefer a shorter method.

The goal of your speech is important. Are you trying to persuade, inform, or even entertain? Different purposes require different speech lengths. For instance, persuasive speeches might require longer to present an argument that is convincing, whereas entertaining speeches could be shorter and quicker.

3. Occasion

The character of the event has a significant impact on the length of a speech. A formal business presentation usually has time limitations; however, a keynote speech at a conference may permit a longer speech. Be aware of whether the event will be celebratory or educational. Or if it is informative.

4. Topic Complexity

Complex subjects usually require more time to explore and explain deeply. Simple topics can be explained more concisely. Consider the depth of your topic and alter your speech’s length in line with the complexity of your subject.

5. Time Constraints

Certain events have set times for speakers. It’s crucial to follow the time limits to keep the schedule and make sure that all speakers get an equal amount of time.

6. Emotional Tone

The emotion of your speech may affect the length of your speech. Personal or emotional speeches could require longer time for the audience to feel connected with the topic as well as the presenter. On the other hand, informative or educational speeches can be less rambling.

7. Visual Aids

If you intend to utilize visual aids, such as props or slides within your speech, it could affect the length of your speech. Be aware of the length of amount of time needed to integrate and present the visual aids.

8. Engagement Techniques

The speeches that incorporate interactive elements and audience participation storytelling might require more time. When you’re employing engaging methods to engage your audience, make sure you plan these to be completed within the allotted time.

9. Rehearsal and Pacing

The speed at which you speak can influence the length of your speech. Practice and practice your speech to ensure you’re not rushing or speaking too fast. This will allow you to keep your message in the timeframe you want to.

10. Audience Feedback

During your talk, take note of the reactions of your audience. If you observe signs of disengagement or agitation, you might want to alter your speed and the content so that they keep the audience’s interest.

When you take these elements into consideration, you are able to adjust your speech’s length to meet the requirements of your audience as well as the requirements of the event. In the next part, we’ll discuss how to determine the amount of words required for 10 minutes of speech. We’ll also provide an easy-to-follow guidance to ensure your speech is in the proper length.

Tips For Speech Writing

Making an engaging and powerful speech requires more than the number of words. Here are some key ways to improve your ability to write a speech:

• Learn to Know Your Readers: Before you begin writing, you should consider who your target audience is. What are their preferences concern, their needs, and on a level? Create a speech that is customized to suit their needs and make them feel connected on an individual level.
• Clear Structure: Organise your speech using an organized and clear structure. Begin with an engaging intro, followed by main arguments, supporting evidence and a memorable closing. Use signs to help your audience follow your presentation.
• Engaging Openings that are engaging: Start your presentation with an engaging hook. It is possible to use anecdotes, quotes, questions, or interesting information to draw your audience’s attention right from the beginning.
• Thematic Unity: Make sure that your speech is focused on a primary concept or a message. Your entire content should be centered around this topic and make the audience easier to comprehend and follow the message.
• Utilize stories and examples: Storytelling is an effective tool for speech writing. Use relevant stories and illustrations to create writing interesting and memorable.
• Vibrant Language: Make use of descriptive and vivid words to paint the picture of your target audience’s mind. This will help them see the message and connect to the message emotionally.
• Conciseness: Make sure you are concise when writing your speeches. Avoid excessive jargon, redundancy, and excessively complicated words. Stay focused and remain focused on your principal concepts.
• Transitions: Smooth transitions are essential between different parts within your presentation. Transition words and phrases can help to guide your audience through your speech while maintaining the flow of your speech.
• Engagement of the Audience: Inspire audience participation by using rhetorical questions, call-and-response or other interactive elements. Your audience should be an active element of your speech.
• Humor and wit: If it is appropriate for the event, it can be an effective method to engage your target audience. Make sure to use humor in a moderate manner, and it’s in line with the message.
• Credibility: Build your credibility by citing credible sources and providing well-researched data. This increases the confidence your target audience will have with your content.
• Emotional Appeal: Engage with your audience at an emotional level. Make use of personal stories, storytelling, and emotive language to create emotions and establish connections.
• Practice and rehearse: Practice your speech several times. This will not only help with timing, but also enhances your speech and confidence.
• Timing Attention: Be aware of the limitations to your time. If your talk is expected to last 10 minutes, make sure your presentation can be comfortably within the time frame.
• Editing and proofreading: After composing your speech, you should edit it and proofread the speech for clarity grammar, flow, and clarity. It’s crucial for your speech to be clear and uncluttered.
• Get feedback: Talk about your speech to your trusted colleague or friend to receive feedback. They may provide valuable insight and suggestions for improving.
• Revisions: Don’t be afraid to make adjustments and revisions when needed. Writing a speech can be an ongoing process, and your speech could alter as you work on it.

Incorporating these suggestions in your speech writing procedure, You’ll be able to craft speeches that engage your audience, communicate your message clearly, and leave a lasting impression.

In the realm of speaking in public, the issue about how many webpages make up 10 minutes of speech may appear as a matter of purely technical considerations, however, it is much more than the mere numbers. Speech length is crucial for many reasons, including audience involvement, the relevance of the event, and the clarity and effectiveness of the message.

The art of crafting a perfect speech is comprehending the factors that determine the length of your speech and mastering the art of writing a speech. While you’re in front of your audience, keep in mind that it’s not only about the words that are written on paper and how they are able to connect with your audience . The process of writing a speech, starting from the beginning of your ideas through their execution on stage, is a dazzling dance that requires practice, accuracy, and a bit of imagination.

If you follow the suggestions and guidelines offered in this manual that you will not only be capable of answering the question of how many pages as well as give speeches that will captivate and inspire. They will also leave an impact. If you’re a seasoned or novice, take on the challenge and allow your words to light up the stage with intention as well as meaning and eloquence.

People Who Talk About Others

Jeff bridges speech impediment.

クリスマスメッセージやカードに使いたい英語の例文48撰

How To Write Superscript On WhatsApp?

How to Install Mac OS on Hyper V: Step-by-Step Guide

Upside Down La Hat Meaning

いまさら聞けない！インターネットの英語略語　34選

英語で住所がスイスイ書ける！もう困らない5つのポイント！

英語で「賛成」「反対」をニュアンスも含めて伝える表現28選

海外で契約条件交渉！　英語での合意形成シミュレーション実践例

Unlocking Spanish: Essential Tips to Master the Language

Unlock Your Potential: Find the Best Affiliate Marketing Course to Skyrocket Your Online Earnings

Mastering Market Consistency: The Essential Role of Backtesting in Forex Trading

How to Know If Vectors are Linearly Independent

Recent news.

Welcome to Starla, your ultimate source of education and learning resources. Our mission is to provide high-quality and accessible education to everyone, regardless of background and location. Education is a crucial driver of personal and societal growth. It strives to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in today’s rapidly changing world.

Browse by Category

• Daily Conversation
• General Knowledge
• Sponsored Posts
• Tech & Gadgets
• Uncategorized

Copyright © 2023 - Stat Language Blog - Chat us for Guest Posts & Personalized Ads.

Words per Minute Calculator

Table of contents

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to deliver a speech? Or how much time you need to read a book? This words per minute calculator (or WPM calculator for short) will help you convert between the number of words and the time taken to read or say. This way, you will not only learn how many words is a 5-minute speech but also how long it takes you to read a document with 2000 words.

If you want to know how much time you need to finish a book, head straight to our reading speed calculator !

Words per minute (speech)

In order to determine how long your presentation takes, you first need to find your speaking speed — how many words per minute of speech you can deliver. For example, the average speaking speed in English is 130 wpm (words per minute). If, however, you are frequently told that you speak very slowly or very fast, you should adjust this value accordingly.

You could also measure your speaking speed experimentally. Set a timer to one minute and start reading a passage of text aloud. Once the timer stops, count the words you managed to read. This number is your words per minute speech speed — you can input it directly into our calculator after selecting the radio button Other .

Words per minute (reading)

The same principle as your speaking speed applies to your reading speed — the number of words per minute of reading. The average reading speed for the English language is between 170 and 240 wpm , depending on the text difficulty and your English ability.

Naturally, you can measure your reading speed and input it directly into this reading words per minute calculator. All you have to do is set a timer to one minute and start reading a book (or an e-book ), this time silently. Once the timer rings, count the words you read and input the number into the respective field (below the radio button Other in the reading section).

How many words is a 5 minute speech?

Once you know your speaking and reading speed, the calculations are a piece of cake! All you have to do is input the number of words you have to say into this words per minute calculator, which will tell you how long your presentation should take.

Of course, you can also use this calculator to figure out the maximum number of words in a speech with a limited time frame — for example, 5 minutes. Let's look at how to use this tool in more detail.

Choose whether you will speak to an audience or silently read the text. In this case, we are going to choose speech.

Select your speaking speed . We will stay with the average value of 130 wpm.

Determine the duration of the speech — here, we will pick a 5-minute elevator pitch.

Multiply the reading speed by the time to find out how many words are in a 5-minute speech:

130 × 5 = 650 words

Your speech can have a maximum of 650 words.

How many words per minute in a speech?

The average speaking speed in English is 130 words per minute . However, the average speaking rate changes according to the task before a speaker — for presentations, it goes down to 100-120 wpm, while for YouTubers, it's up to 150-160 wpm. When picking the right pace, you should also consider your audience, e.g., the presence of kids or non-native speakers!

How many words per 10 minute speech?

To deliver a successful ten-minute talk, prepare between 1000-1200 words. The absolute maximum you should have is 1300 words.

How many words are in a five minute speech?

A 5-minute speech should have between 500-600 words. Be careful not to exceed 650 words, or you'll talk too fast and, as a result, lose the audience!

How do I calculate the number of words in a talk?

To determine the number of words in a talk that will last m minutes:

Decide on the speaking rate r :

• Average: 130 wpm (words per minute);
• Slow: 100 wpm; and
• Fast: 160 wpm.

Multiply the speaking rate by the time you have in minutes:

The result in 2 is the number of words your talk should contain.

Number of words

.css-m482sy.css-m482sy{color:#2B3148;background-color:transparent;font-family:var(--calculator-ui-font-family),Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:24px;overflow:visible;padding-top:0px;position:relative;}.css-m482sy.css-m482sy:after{content:'';-webkit-transform:scale(0);-moz-transform:scale(0);-ms-transform:scale(0);transform:scale(0);position:absolute;border:2px solid #EA9430;border-radius:2px;inset:-8px;z-index:1;}.css-m482sy .js-external-link-button.link-like,.css-m482sy .js-external-link-anchor{color:inherit;border-radius:1px;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-m482sy .js-external-link-button.link-like:hover,.css-m482sy .js-external-link-anchor:hover,.css-m482sy .js-external-link-button.link-like:active,.css-m482sy .js-external-link-anchor:active{text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-shadow:1px 0 0;}.css-m482sy .js-external-link-button.link-like:focus-visible,.css-m482sy .js-external-link-anchor:focus-visible{outline:transparent 2px dotted;box-shadow:0 0 0 2px #6314E6;}.css-m482sy p,.css-m482sy div{margin:0;display:block;}.css-m482sy pre{margin:0;display:block;}.css-m482sy pre code{display:block;width:-webkit-fit-content;width:-moz-fit-content;width:fit-content;}.css-m482sy pre:not(:first-child){padding-top:8px;}.css-m482sy ul,.css-m482sy ol{display:block margin:0;padding-left:20px;}.css-m482sy ul li,.css-m482sy ol li{padding-top:8px;}.css-m482sy ul ul,.css-m482sy ol ul,.css-m482sy ul ol,.css-m482sy ol ol{padding-top:0;}.css-m482sy ul:not(:first-child),.css-m482sy ol:not(:first-child){padding-top:4px;} .css-63uqft{margin:auto;background-color:white;overflow:auto;overflow-wrap:break-word;word-break:break-word;}.css-63uqft code,.css-63uqft kbd,.css-63uqft pre,.css-63uqft samp{font-family:monospace;}.css-63uqft code{padding:2px 4px;color:#444;background:#ddd;border-radius:4px;}.css-63uqft figcaption,.css-63uqft caption{text-align:center;}.css-63uqft figcaption{font-size:12px;font-style:italic;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft h3{font-size:1.75rem;}.css-63uqft h4{font-size:1.5rem;}.css-63uqft .mathBlock{font-size:24px;-webkit-padding-start:4px;padding-inline-start:4px;}.css-63uqft .mathBlock .katex{font-size:24px;text-align:left;}.css-63uqft .math-inline{background-color:#f0f0f0;display:inline-block;font-size:inherit;padding:0 3px;}.css-63uqft .videoBlock,.css-63uqft .imageBlock{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-63uqft .imageBlock__image-align--left,.css-63uqft .videoBlock__video-align--left{float:left;}.css-63uqft .imageBlock__image-align--right,.css-63uqft .videoBlock__video-align--right{float:right;}.css-63uqft .imageBlock__image-align--center,.css-63uqft .videoBlock__video-align--center{display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;clear:both;}.css-63uqft .imageBlock__image-align--none,.css-63uqft .videoBlock__video-align--none{clear:both;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;}.css-63uqft .videoBlock__video--wrapper{position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;}.css-63uqft .videoBlock__video--wrapper iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-63uqft .videoBlock__caption{text-align:left;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_AMS';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_AMS-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_AMS-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_AMS-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Caligraphic';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Caligraphic-Bold.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Caligraphic-Bold.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Caligraphic-Bold.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Caligraphic';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Caligraphic-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Caligraphic-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Caligraphic-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Fraktur';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Fraktur-Bold.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Fraktur-Bold.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Fraktur-Bold.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Fraktur';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Fraktur-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Fraktur-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Fraktur-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Main';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Bold.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Bold.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Bold.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Main';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-BoldItalic.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-BoldItalic.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-BoldItalic.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Main';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Italic.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Italic.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Italic.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Main';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Main-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Math';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Math-BoldItalic.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Math-BoldItalic.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Math-BoldItalic.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Math';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Math-Italic.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Math-Italic.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Math-Italic.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_SansSerif';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Bold.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Bold.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Bold.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_SansSerif';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Italic.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Italic.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Italic.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_SansSerif';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_SansSerif-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Script';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Script-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Script-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Script-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Size1';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size1-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size1-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size1-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Size2';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size2-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size2-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size2-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Size3';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size3-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size3-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size3-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Size4';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size4-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size4-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Size4-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}@font-face{font-family:'KaTeX_Typewriter';src:url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Typewriter-Regular.woff2) format('woff2'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Typewriter-Regular.woff) format('woff'),url(/katex-fonts/KaTeX_Typewriter-Regular.ttf) format('truetype');font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.css-63uqft .katex{font:normal 1.21em KaTeX_Main,Times New Roman,serif;line-height:1.2;text-indent:0;text-rendering:auto;}.css-63uqft .katex *{-ms-high-contrast-adjust:none!important;border-color:currentColor;}.css-63uqft .katex .katex-version::after{content:'0.13.13';}.css-63uqft .katex .katex-mathml{position:absolute;clip:rect(1px,1px,1px,1px);padding:0;border:0;height:1px;width:1px;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft .katex .katex-html>.newline{display:block;}.css-63uqft .katex .base{position:relative;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;width:-webkit-min-content;width:-moz-min-content;width:-webkit-min-content;width:-moz-min-content;width:min-content;}.css-63uqft .katex .strut{display:inline-block;}.css-63uqft .katex .textbf{font-weight:bold;}.css-63uqft .katex .textit{font-style:italic;}.css-63uqft .katex .textrm{font-family:KaTeX_Main;}.css-63uqft .katex .textsf{font-family:KaTeX_SansSerif;}.css-63uqft .katex .texttt{font-family:KaTeX_Typewriter;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathnormal{font-family:KaTeX_Math;font-style:italic;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathit{font-family:KaTeX_Main;font-style:italic;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathrm{font-style:normal;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathbf{font-family:KaTeX_Main;font-weight:bold;}.css-63uqft .katex .boldsymbol{font-family:KaTeX_Math;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;}.css-63uqft .katex .amsrm{font-family:KaTeX_AMS;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathbb,.css-63uqft .katex .textbb{font-family:KaTeX_AMS;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathcal{font-family:KaTeX_Caligraphic;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathfrak,.css-63uqft .katex .textfrak{font-family:KaTeX_Fraktur;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathtt{font-family:KaTeX_Typewriter;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathscr,.css-63uqft .katex .textscr{font-family:KaTeX_Script;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathsf,.css-63uqft .katex .textsf{font-family:KaTeX_SansSerif;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathboldsf,.css-63uqft .katex .textboldsf{font-family:KaTeX_SansSerif;font-weight:bold;}.css-63uqft .katex .mathitsf,.css-63uqft .katex .textitsf{font-family:KaTeX_SansSerif;font-style:italic;}.css-63uqft .katex .mainrm{font-family:KaTeX_Main;font-style:normal;}.css-63uqft .katex .vlist-t{display:inline-table;table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;}.css-63uqft .katex .vlist-r{display:table-row;}.css-63uqft .katex .vlist{display:table-cell;vertical-align:bottom;position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex .vlist>span{display:block;height:0;position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex .vlist>span>span{display:inline-block;}.css-63uqft .katex .vlist>span>.pstrut{overflow:hidden;width:0;}.css-63uqft .katex .vlist-t2{margin-right:-2px;}.css-63uqft .katex .vlist-s{display:table-cell;vertical-align:bottom;font-size:1px;width:2px;min-width:2px;}.css-63uqft .katex .vbox{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-align-items:baseline;-webkit-box-align:baseline;-ms-flex-align:baseline;align-items:baseline;}.css-63uqft .katex .hbox{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;width:100%;}.css-63uqft .katex .thinbox{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;width:0;max-width:0;}.css-63uqft .katex .msupsub{text-align:left;}.css-63uqft .katex .mfrac>span>span{text-align:center;}.css-63uqft .katex .mfrac .frac-line{display:inline-block;width:100%;border-bottom-style:solid;}.css-63uqft .katex .mfrac .frac-line,.css-63uqft .katex .overline .overline-line,.css-63uqft .katex .underline .underline-line,.css-63uqft .katex .hline,.css-63uqft .katex .hdashline,.css-63uqft .katex .rule{min-height:1px;}.css-63uqft .katex .mspace{display:inline-block;}.css-63uqft .katex .llap,.css-63uqft .katex .rlap,.css-63uqft .katex .clap{width:0;position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex .llap>.inner,.css-63uqft .katex .rlap>.inner,.css-63uqft .katex .clap>.inner{position:absolute;}.css-63uqft .katex .llap>.fix,.css-63uqft .katex .rlap>.fix,.css-63uqft .katex .clap>.fix{display:inline-block;}.css-63uqft .katex .llap>.inner{right:0;}.css-63uqft .katex .rlap>.inner,.css-63uqft .katex .clap>.inner{left:0;}.css-63uqft .katex .clap>.inner>span{margin-left:-50%;margin-right:50%;}.css-63uqft .katex .rule{display:inline-block;border:solid 0;position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex .overline .overline-line,.css-63uqft .katex .underline .underline-line,.css-63uqft .katex .hline{display:inline-block;width:100%;border-bottom-style:solid;}.css-63uqft .katex .hdashline{display:inline-block;width:100%;border-bottom-style:dashed;}.css-63uqft .katex .sqrt>.root{margin-left:0.27777778em;margin-right:-0.55555556em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size1{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size2{font-size:1.2em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size3{font-size:1.4em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size4{font-size:1.6em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size5{font-size:1.8em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size6{font-size:2em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size7{font-size:2.4em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size8{font-size:2.88em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size9{font-size:3.456em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size10{font-size:4.148em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size1.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size1.size11{font-size:4.976em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size1{font-size:0.83333333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size2{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size3{font-size:1.16666667em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size4{font-size:1.33333333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size5{font-size:1.5em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size6{font-size:1.66666667em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size7{font-size:2em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size8{font-size:2.4em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size9{font-size:2.88em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size10{font-size:3.45666667em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size2.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size2.size11{font-size:4.14666667em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size1{font-size:0.71428571em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size2{font-size:0.85714286em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size3{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size4{font-size:1.14285714em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size5{font-size:1.28571429em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size6{font-size:1.42857143em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size7{font-size:1.71428571em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size8{font-size:2.05714286em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size9{font-size:2.46857143em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size10{font-size:2.96285714em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size3.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size3.size11{font-size:3.55428571em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size1{font-size:0.625em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size2{font-size:0.75em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size3{font-size:0.875em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size4{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size5{font-size:1.125em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size6{font-size:1.25em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size7{font-size:1.5em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size8{font-size:1.8em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size9{font-size:2.16em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size10{font-size:2.5925em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size4.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size4.size11{font-size:3.11em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size1{font-size:0.55555556em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size2{font-size:0.66666667em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size3{font-size:0.77777778em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size4{font-size:0.88888889em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size5{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size6{font-size:1.11111111em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size7{font-size:1.33333333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size8{font-size:1.6em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size9{font-size:1.92em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size10{font-size:2.30444444em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size5.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size5.size11{font-size:2.76444444em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size1{font-size:0.5em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size2{font-size:0.6em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size3{font-size:0.7em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size4{font-size:0.8em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size5{font-size:0.9em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size6{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size7{font-size:1.2em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size8{font-size:1.44em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size9{font-size:1.728em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size10{font-size:2.074em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size6.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size6.size11{font-size:2.488em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size1{font-size:0.41666667em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size2{font-size:0.5em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size3{font-size:0.58333333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size4{font-size:0.66666667em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size5{font-size:0.75em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size6{font-size:0.83333333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size7{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size8{font-size:1.2em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size9{font-size:1.44em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size10{font-size:1.72833333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size7.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size7.size11{font-size:2.07333333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size1{font-size:0.34722222em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size2{font-size:0.41666667em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size3{font-size:0.48611111em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size4{font-size:0.55555556em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size5{font-size:0.625em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size6{font-size:0.69444444em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size7{font-size:0.83333333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size8{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size9{font-size:1.2em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size10{font-size:1.44027778em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size8.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size8.size11{font-size:1.72777778em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size1{font-size:0.28935185em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size2{font-size:0.34722222em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size3{font-size:0.40509259em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size4{font-size:0.46296296em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size5{font-size:0.52083333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size6{font-size:0.5787037em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size7{font-size:0.69444444em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size8{font-size:0.83333333em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size9{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size10{font-size:1.20023148em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size9.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size9.size11{font-size:1.43981481em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size1{font-size:0.24108004em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size2{font-size:0.28929605em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size3{font-size:0.33751205em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size4{font-size:0.38572806em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size5{font-size:0.43394407em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size6{font-size:0.48216008em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size7{font-size:0.57859209em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size8{font-size:0.69431051em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size9{font-size:0.83317261em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size10{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size10.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size10.size11{font-size:1.19961427em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size1,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size1{font-size:0.20096463em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size2,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size2{font-size:0.24115756em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size3,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size3{font-size:0.28135048em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size4,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size4{font-size:0.32154341em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size5,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size5{font-size:0.36173633em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size6,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size6{font-size:0.40192926em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size7,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size7{font-size:0.48231511em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size8,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size8{font-size:0.57877814em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size9,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size9{font-size:0.69453376em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size10,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size10{font-size:0.83360129em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sizing.reset-size11.size11,.css-63uqft .katex .fontsize-ensurer.reset-size11.size11{font-size:1em;}.css-63uqft .katex .delimsizing.size1{font-family:KaTeX_Size1;}.css-63uqft .katex .delimsizing.size2{font-family:KaTeX_Size2;}.css-63uqft .katex .delimsizing.size3{font-family:KaTeX_Size3;}.css-63uqft .katex .delimsizing.size4{font-family:KaTeX_Size4;}.css-63uqft .katex .delimsizing.mult .delim-size1>span{font-family:KaTeX_Size1;}.css-63uqft .katex .delimsizing.mult .delim-size4>span{font-family:KaTeX_Size4;}.css-63uqft .katex .nulldelimiter{display:inline-block;width:0.12em;}.css-63uqft .katex .delimcenter{position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex .op-symbol{position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex .op-symbol.small-op{font-family:KaTeX_Size1;}.css-63uqft .katex .op-symbol.large-op{font-family:KaTeX_Size2;}.css-63uqft .katex .op-limits>.vlist-t{text-align:center;}.css-63uqft .katex .accent>.vlist-t{text-align:center;}.css-63uqft .katex .accent .accent-body{position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex .accent .accent-body:not(.accent-full){width:0;}.css-63uqft .katex .overlay{display:block;}.css-63uqft .katex .mtable .vertical-separator{display:inline-block;min-width:1px;}.css-63uqft .katex .mtable .arraycolsep{display:inline-block;}.css-63uqft .katex .mtable .col-align-c>.vlist-t{text-align:center;}.css-63uqft .katex .mtable .col-align-l>.vlist-t{text-align:left;}.css-63uqft .katex .mtable .col-align-r>.vlist-t{text-align:right;}.css-63uqft .katex .svg-align{text-align:left;}.css-63uqft .katex svg{display:block;position:absolute;width:100%;height:inherit;fill:currentColor;stroke:currentColor;fill-rule:nonzero;fill-opacity:1;stroke-width:1;stroke-linecap:butt;stroke-linejoin:miter;stroke-miterlimit:4;stroke-dasharray:none;stroke-dashoffset:0;stroke-opacity:1;}.css-63uqft .katex svg path{stroke:none;}.css-63uqft .katex img{border-style:none;min-width:0;min-height:0;max-width:none;max-height:none;}.css-63uqft .katex .stretchy{width:100%;display:block;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft .katex .stretchy::before,.css-63uqft .katex .stretchy::after{content:'';}.css-63uqft .katex .hide-tail{width:100%;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft .katex .halfarrow-left{position:absolute;left:0;width:50.2%;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft .katex .halfarrow-right{position:absolute;right:0;width:50.2%;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft .katex .brace-left{position:absolute;left:0;width:25.1%;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft .katex .brace-center{position:absolute;left:25%;width:50%;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft .katex .brace-right{position:absolute;right:0;width:25.1%;overflow:hidden;}.css-63uqft .katex .x-arrow-pad{padding:0 0.5em;}.css-63uqft .katex .cd-arrow-pad{padding:0 0.55556em 0 0.27778em;}.css-63uqft .katex .x-arrow,.css-63uqft .katex .mover,.css-63uqft .katex .munder{text-align:center;}.css-63uqft .katex .boxpad{padding:0 0.3em 0 0.3em;}.css-63uqft .katex .fbox,.css-63uqft .katex .fcolorbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:0.04em solid;}.css-63uqft .katex .cancel-pad{padding:0 0.2em 0 0.2em;}.css-63uqft .katex .cancel-lap{margin-left:-0.2em;margin-right:-0.2em;}.css-63uqft .katex .sout{border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:0.08em;}.css-63uqft .katex .angl{box-sizing:border-box;border-top:0.049em solid;border-right:0.049em solid;margin-right:0.03889em;}.css-63uqft .katex .anglpad{padding:0 0.03889em 0 0.03889em;}.css-63uqft .katex .eqn-num::before{counter-increment:katexEqnNo;content:'(' counter(katexEqnNo) ')';}.css-63uqft .katex .mml-eqn-num::before{counter-increment:mmlEqnNo;content:'(' counter(mmlEqnNo) ')';}.css-63uqft .katex .mtr-glue{width:50%;}.css-63uqft .katex .cd-vert-arrow{display:inline-block;position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex .cd-label-left{display:inline-block;position:absolute;right:calc(50% + 0.3em);text-align:left;}.css-63uqft .katex .cd-label-right{display:inline-block;position:absolute;left:calc(50% + 0.3em);text-align:right;}.css-63uqft .katex-display{display:block;margin:1em 0;text-align:center;}.css-63uqft .katex-display>.katex{display:block;white-space:nowrap;}.css-63uqft .katex-display>.katex>.katex-html{display:block;position:relative;}.css-63uqft .katex-display>.katex>.katex-html>.tag{position:absolute;right:0;}.css-63uqft .katex-display.leqno>.katex>.katex-html>.tag{left:0;right:auto;}.css-63uqft .katex-display.fleqn>.katex{text-align:left;padding-left:2em;}.css-63uqft body{counter-reset:katexEqnNo mmlEqnNo;}.css-63uqft table{width:-webkit-max-content;width:-moz-max-content;width:max-content;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock{max-width:100%;margin-bottom:1rem;overflow-y:scroll;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock thead,.css-63uqft .tableBlock thead th{border-bottom:1px solid #333!important;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock th,.css-63uqft .tableBlock td{padding:10px;text-align:left;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock th{font-weight:bold!important;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock caption{caption-side:bottom;color:#555;font-size:12px;font-style:italic;text-align:center;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock caption>p{margin:0;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock th>p,.css-63uqft .tableBlock td>p{margin:0;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='aliceblue']{background-color:#f0f8ff;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='black']{background-color:#000;color:#fff;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='chocolate']{background-color:#d2691e;color:#fff;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='cornflowerblue']{background-color:#6495ed;color:#fff;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='crimson']{background-color:#dc143c;color:#fff;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='darkblue']{background-color:#00008b;color:#fff;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='darkseagreen']{background-color:#8fbc8f;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='deepskyblue']{background-color:#00bfff;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='gainsboro']{background-color:#dcdcdc;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='grey']{background-color:#808080;color:#fff;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='lemonchiffon']{background-color:#fffacd;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='lightpink']{background-color:#ffb6c1;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='lightsalmon']{background-color:#ffa07a;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='lightskyblue']{background-color:#87cefa;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='mediumblue']{background-color:#0000cd;color:#fff;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='omnigrey']{background-color:#f0f0f0;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-background-color='white']{background-color:#fff;color:#000;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-text-align='center']{text-align:center;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-text-align='left']{text-align:left;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-text-align='right']{text-align:right;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-vertical-align='bottom']{vertical-align:bottom;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-vertical-align='middle']{vertical-align:middle;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock [data-vertical-align='top']{vertical-align:top;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__font-size--xxsmall{font-size:10px;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__font-size--xsmall{font-size:12px;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__font-size--small{font-size:14px;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__font-size--large{font-size:18px;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--some tbody tr:not(:last-child){border-bottom:1px solid #e2e5e7;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--bordered td,.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--bordered th{border:1px solid #e2e5e7;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--borderless tbody+tbody,.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--borderless td,.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--borderless th,.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--borderless tr,.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--borderless thead,.css-63uqft .tableBlock__border--borderless thead th{border:0!important;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock:not(.tableBlock__table-striped) tbody tr{background-color:unset!important;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(odd){background-color:#f9fafc!important;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__table-compactl th,.css-63uqft .tableBlock__table-compact td{padding:3px!important;}.css-63uqft .tableBlock__full-size{width:100%;}.css-63uqft .textBlock{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-formatting--finePrint{font-size:12px;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox{padding:0.75rem 1.25rem;margin-bottom:1rem;border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0.25rem;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox p{margin:0;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox--primary{background-color:#cce5ff;border-color:#b8daff;color:#004085;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox--secondary{background-color:#e2e3e5;border-color:#d6d8db;color:#383d41;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox--success{background-color:#d4edda;border-color:#c3e6cb;color:#155724;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox--danger{background-color:#f8d7da;border-color:#f5c6cb;color:#721c24;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox--warning{background-color:#fff3cd;border-color:#ffeeba;color:#856404;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox--info{background-color:#d1ecf1;border-color:#bee5eb;color:#0c5460;}.css-63uqft .textBlock__text-infoBox--dark{background-color:#d6d8d9;border-color:#c6c8ca;color:#1b1e21;}.css-63uqft .text-overline{-webkit-text-decoration:overline;text-decoration:overline;}.css-63uqft.css-63uqft{color:#2B3148;background-color:transparent;font-family:var(--calculator-ui-font-family),Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:24px;overflow:visible;padding-top:0px;position:relative;}.css-63uqft.css-63uqft:after{content:'';-webkit-transform:scale(0);-moz-transform:scale(0);-ms-transform:scale(0);transform:scale(0);position:absolute;border:2px solid #EA9430;border-radius:2px;inset:-8px;z-index:1;}.css-63uqft .js-external-link-button.link-like,.css-63uqft .js-external-link-anchor{color:inherit;border-radius:1px;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-63uqft .js-external-link-button.link-like:hover,.css-63uqft .js-external-link-anchor:hover,.css-63uqft .js-external-link-button.link-like:active,.css-63uqft .js-external-link-anchor:active{text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-shadow:1px 0 0;}.css-63uqft .js-external-link-button.link-like:focus-visible,.css-63uqft .js-external-link-anchor:focus-visible{outline:transparent 2px dotted;box-shadow:0 0 0 2px #6314E6;}.css-63uqft p,.css-63uqft div{margin:0;display:block;}.css-63uqft pre{margin:0;display:block;}.css-63uqft pre code{display:block;width:-webkit-fit-content;width:-moz-fit-content;width:fit-content;}.css-63uqft pre:not(:first-child){padding-top:8px;}.css-63uqft ul,.css-63uqft ol{display:block margin:0;padding-left:20px;}.css-63uqft ul li,.css-63uqft ol li{padding-top:8px;}.css-63uqft ul ul,.css-63uqft ol ul,.css-63uqft ul ol,.css-63uqft ol ol{padding-top:0;}.css-63uqft ul:not(:first-child),.css-63uqft ol:not(:first-child){padding-top:4px;} Speaking

Speaking speed

Speaking time

Reading speed

Reading time

Quote Investigator®

Tracing Quotations

If I Am To Speak Ten Minutes, I Need a Week for Preparation; If an Hour, I Am Ready Now

Woodrow Wilson? Abraham Lincoln? Rufus Choate? Thomas B. Macaulay? William Howard Taft? Mark Twain? Anonymous?

Dear Quote Investigator: A biography of President Woodrow Wilson included an entertaining quotation about the preparation time needed for speeches of varying lengths. Here is an excerpt from the book: [1] 1946, The Wilson Era: Years of War and After 1917-1923 by Josephus Daniels, Quote Page 624,The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Verified with scans)

A member of the Cabinet congratulated Wilson on introducing the vogue of short speeches and asked him about the time it took him to prepare his speeches. He said: “It depends. If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now.”

This biography was published in 1946, i.e., many years after the death of Wilson in 1924. Could you search for earlier support of this quotation?

Quote Investigator: QI has located a match for a close variant quotation in 1918 that was attributed to Woodrow Wilson. The details are given further below.

There is a family of statements expressing this central idea, and it has been evolving for more than one hundred years. Tracing this family is difficult because of the high variability of the wording.

The first relevant instance found by QI was spoken in 1893 by the Governor of California. He ascribed the words to Abraham Lincoln, but this linkage was weak because Lincoln died decades earlier in 1865.This rudimentary version mentioned two different speech lengths instead of four: [2] 1893, Appendix to the Journals of the Senate and Assembly of the Thirtieth Session of the Legislature of the State of California, Volume 1, First Biennial Message of Governor H. H. Markham to the … Continue reading

Lincoln once made a most apt suggestion applicable to such cases. When asked to appear upon some important occasion and deliver a five-minute speech, he said that he had no time to prepare five-minute speeches, but that he could go and speak an hour at any time.

In 1895 a minister named J. N. Hall gave a speech at a meeting of the Men’s Sunday Evening Club as reported in a Rockford, Illinois newspaper. Hall ascribed an instance of the saying to Rufus Choate who was an orator and Senator from Massachusetts who died decades earlier in 1859. This version was tripartite; however, the third part referred to talking all day instead of speaking for an hour: [3] 1895 December 3, Rockford Daily Register Gazette, It’s Second Birthday: Men’s Sunday Evening Club Properly Celebrates, Quote Page 5, Column 2, (GNB Page 3), Rockford, Illinois. … Continue reading

There is a great deal in condensation in these days of compressed yeast and potted ham, and I am reminded of an incident told of Rufus Choate, who being asked to make a speech on a certain occasion said, “If it is to be a minute speech I shall need four weeks in which to prepare, if a half hour speech, then two weeks, but if I am to talk all day I’m ready now.”

The QI website also has an entry for a popular related quotation: “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter”. Here is a link .

Here are additional selected citations in chronological order.

In 1900 a doctor employed an instance of the schema while speaking at a convention of the New Hampshire Medical Society. The crafter of the statement was unidentified: [4] 1900, Transactions of the New Hampshire Medical Society at the One Hundred and Ninth Anniversary, (Held at Concord, New Hampshire on May 31 and June 1, 1900), “Nutrition” by J. G. Quimby … Continue reading

Discussion opened by H. L. Stickney, M.D. of Newport. Mr. President and Fellows: Some one has said that “if you want me to speak two minutes you give me a notification of two weeks; if you want me to speak five minutes, I should have a notification of one week, but if you want me to talk all day, here I am.”

In 1915 a textbook chapter titled “The Art of Public Speaking” by Grenville Kleiser presented an instance of the expression with an anonymous ascription: [5] 1915, Kleiser’s Complete Guide to Public Speaking, Compiled and Edited by Grenville Kleiser, Section: The Art of Public Speaking by Grenville Kleiser, Start Page vii, Quote Page ix, Funk & … Continue reading

A man should take ample time in which properly to prepare his speech. “How long do you wish me to speak?” asked a man who was invited by a society to attend its annual dinner. “Why do you ask?” inquired the secretary. “Because,” said the orator, “if you want me to give a ten-minute address I must have at least two weeks in which to prepare myself, but if you want me to talk for an hour or more, I am ready.”

In 1918 the saying was attributed to President Woodrow Wilson in the pages of a trade publication for the flour milling industry. The third part of this version used the phrase “talk as long as I want” instead of “an hour”: [6] 1918 April, The Operative Miller, Volume 23, Number 4, (Short freestanding item), Quote Page 130, Column 1, Operative Miller Press, Chicago, Illinois. (Google Books Full View) link

“How long does it take you to prepare one of your speeches?” asked a friend of President Wilson not long ago. “That depends on the length of the speech,” answered the President. “If it is a ten-minute speech it takes me all of two weeks to prepare it; if it is a half-hour speech it takes me a week; if I can talk as long as I want to it requires no preparation at all. I am ready now.”

In 1922 a textbook titled “Public Speaking Today: A High School Manual” included a variant of the expression which was attributed to Thomas Babington Macaulay, a British statesman and historian who died in 1859: [7] 1922, Public Speaking Today: A High School Manual by Francis Cummins Lockwood and Clarence DeWitt Thorpe, Quote Page 155 and 156, Published by Benj. H. Sanborn & Company, New York. (Google Books … Continue reading

“It takes longer,” says Professor Alden in his Art of Debate, “to prepare a short speech than a long one on almost any subject.” It takes longer to round out a fifteen-minute speech than one an hour long on the same subject. “How long does it take you to work up your speeches?” Macaulay was asked. “That depends,” he replied, “on the length of the speech; if it is a two-hour speech I can prepare it in two days; if it is an hour speech, two weeks; but if it is a ten-minute speech it takes two months.” In the short speech every word must count.

Also in 1922 a college fraternity publication reported on an interfraternity dinner held in Chicago. A speaker stated that a professor he knew had employed a variant of the expression: [8] 1922 July, Banta’s Greek Exchange: A Journal Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World, The Chicago Interfraternity Dinner, Remarks of Mr. Don R. Almy (Sigma Alpha Epsilon), … Continue reading

…that reminds me of a professor that I knew in college in that very much over praised institution that you have heard about here tonight; the boys used to go to him frequently and ask him to address the class of Umpty-ump, or the Wearers of the C, or some other distinguished gathering, and he used to say to them, “Well, now, if you want me to talk fifteen minutes, I must have two weeks to prepare; if you want me to talk half an hour, why I can get along with one week; but if I can talk about the Elmira Reformatory and talk as long as I want to, I am ready now.”

In 1931 “The Rotarian” magazine printed a variant with a reverse ordering. The longest speech length was mentioned first: [9] 1931 December, The Rotarian, Volume 39, Number 6, Talking for Action by L. B. Smelser, Start Page 17, Quote Page 56, Column 2 and 3, Published by Rotary International. (Google Books Full View) link

Some wise speaker once said that if he had fifteen minutes to prepare, he could speak two hours; if he had a day, he could speak an hour; but that if he had two weeks in which to prepare he could make his speech in fifteen minutes.

In 1938 a humor column called “In Lighter Vein” of the “Christian Science Monitor” newspaper printed an instance with an attribution to Woodrow Wilson that closely matched the text of the 1918 citation: [10] 1938 May 20, Christian Science Monitor, In Lighter Vein, Quote Page 21, Column 6, Boston, Massachusetts. (ProQuest)

The Longer the Quicker “How long does it take you to prepare one of your speeches?” asked a friend of President Wilson. “That depends on the length of the speech,” answered the President. “If it is a 10-minute speech, it takes me all of two weeks to prepare it; if it is a half hour speech, it takes me a week; if I can talk as long as I want to, it requires no preparation at all. I am ready now.”

In 1943 the “Boston Herald” of Massachusetts printed a version that was closer to the modern version ascribed to Wilson. The third part mentioned a two-hour speech instead of a speech of unlimited duration: [11] 1943 July 14, Boston Herald, Doolittle Tokio Raid Told in War Book by Alice Dixon Bond, Quote Page 12, Column 4, Boston, Massachusetts. (GenealogyBank)

Someone once asked Woodrow Wilson how long it took him to prepare for a ten-minute speech. He said, “Two weeks.” “How long for an hour speech?” “One week,” he answered. “And for a two-hour one?” his interrogator went on, “I am ready now,” replied the late president.

In 1948 a biography titled “The Wilson Era: Years of War and After 1917-1923” included an instance of the saying credited to Wilson as mentioned previously by the questioner: [12] 1946, The Wilson Era: Years of War and After 1917-1923 by Josephus Daniels, Quote Page 624,The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Verified with scans)

The above citation appears in three key reference works: “Respectfully Quoted” (1989), [13] 1989, Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations Requested from the Congressional Research Service, Edited by Suzy Platt, Section: Oratory, Quote Page 244, Library of Congress, Washington D.C. … Continue reading “Cassell’s Humorous Quotations” (2001), [14] 2001, Cassell’s Humorous Quotations, Compiled by Nigel Rees, Section: Woodrow Wilson, Page 408, Published by Cassell, London and Sterling Pub. Co., New York. (Verified on paper) and “The Yale Book of Quotations” (2006). [15] 2006, The Yale Book of Quotations by Fred R. Shapiro, Section: Woodrow Wilson, Quote Page 831, Yale University Press, New Haven. (Verified on paper)

In 1985 the “New York Times” published remarks by a diplomat named Andor C. Klay who presented an anecdote featuring President William Howard Taft: [16] 1985 December 10, New York Times, Required Reading; Presidential Speeches, (Excerpt from remarks by Andor C. Klay upon receiving the Abraham Lincoln Award of the American Hungarian Federation, … Continue reading

Kohanyi requested President William Howard Taft to attend the 20th anniversary banquet of Szabadsag and make a speech there: “Just a brief one, Mr. President, since we can imagine how busy you must be – perhaps five minutes.” The President smiled and declined: “Do you realize my friends, that to prepare even a five-minute speech would take several hours to plan, to draft, to rewrite, to pass through channels for clearances? I’m afraid that I just haven’t got the time.” Kohanyi pressed: “Well, as far as that goes, we would be delighted to have you speak for an hour.” The monumental body of the heaviest statesman of his time straightened up: “Gentlemen, I am ready, now!”

By 1998 a version of the saying had been connected to the popular humorist Mark Twain on the website of a company providing assistance to public speakers: [17] Website: LJL seminars, Article title: Gathering Information & Materials, Article Author: Lenny Laskowski, Date on website: Copyright Notice 1997, Date from Internet Archive Wayback Machine: … Continue reading

In fact, Mark Twain is one of the earliest known professional speakers and when asked one day if he could prepare a speech for an upcoming engagement, he responded ,”If you want me to speak for an hour, I am ready today.” “If you want me to speak for just a few minutes, it will take me a few weeks to prepare.”

In conclusion, QI believes that Woodrow Wilson probably did employ an instance of this expression. However, the family of sayings had already been established a couple decades before the first ascription to Wilson was published. Wilson was from an academic milieu and the 1922 citation in a fraternity periodical suggested that the saying was in circulation within academia. QI hypothesizes that Wilson was using a pre-existing template.

The attributions to Abraham Lincoln, Rufus Choate, and Mark Twain were all very weak because they occurred many years after the death of the named individuals.

The evolution of this family of sayings does not point to a single authorship, and QI would label the set anonymous.

(Special thanks to Christine Haynie whose inquiry led QI to construct this question and initiate this exploration.)

My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

259 Interesting Speech Topics [Examples + Outlines]

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

The most asked question I get almost every day from students is this:

What makes a topic interesting?

Well, the answer is simple. You have to like it yourself, the subject has to be appropriate to the rules of the assignment, to the audience and the setting of the meeting:

In this article:

How To Find An Interesting Topic

Best interesting speech topics, interesting persuasive speech topics, interesting informative speech topics, topics with outline.

1 – Look in magazines, journals, and newspapers for events.

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

Current or historical, that does not matter at this point, both are okay – and recent engaging and exciting facts, and perhaps valuable information that attracts the attention.

Articles about subjects that interests you and that are comfortable for you to talk about are good indications.

2 – Jot down any possible idea that comes up for interesting speech topics. I always draft a short list for myself of candidate issues if I am contracted for a public speaking engagement.

And then I skip the ones that are too difficult and too complex to prepare and master in 8 to 10 minutes time.

3 – Review some online books on the subject for more detailed current information about your topic. Or go to a library and ask for books and reference articles about your subject.

Without exception, all librarians I know will help you sorting out the speechwriter subject with their advice and recommendations. For example you choose for an alluring pleasure physical activity or farming and countryside topic.

Try to understand how the author has covered it. What’s his structure? What points, information or arguments are the strongest? What examples and illustrations has she or he used?

4 – Peerless reliable statistics and new discoveries can help writing and refining.

Look for controversies, rare and strange opinions. What do you think of it? What do you want your audience to think of it?

5 – Think about related engaging interpretive hints to talk about. When you view your rough list, try to find new points, different angles of view or just turn your thoughts upside down. Look at the special aspects that surprise the listeners.

>>>  For example try these 2 more detailed summary outlines with main points and subpoints. Use my sample structure to add or otherwise wipe steps and stages you do not need.

>>>  In addition to these patterns, you find more ideas for outlined main points in my Minute Section (in the navigation menu bar right on your left of this portal page). Or move straight to sixty plus lineups for speechwriters.

That can be very enlighting for enhancing public discernment. They also can  see , feel, or even  taste  and  smell  what you try to explain or demonstrate in a couple of minutes.

6 – Look for supporting and also for opposing opinions, plus interesting speech topics statements. Add visual aids where you want to emphasize or to give some prominence to an unimaginable point in your interesting topic idea.

7 – Watch news shows, history documentaries and debating programs – for example, the morning shows and the evening news. They are especially helpful for developing a rough list of wheedling brainstorms.

Interesting Speech Topic Examples

Don’t have time to read our full list of 200+ topic ideas? Here is our list of 10 interesting speech topics.

• Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder
• Children don’t play enough
• Animal testing is necessary
• Girls are too mean to each other
• Men should get paternity leave
• Tattoos are an addiction
• If I had a year to do what I want
• Butterflies: deadly creatures
• How to ruin a date in the first minute
• The meaning of dreams

Here is our list of top interesting persuasive speech topics.

• Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder.
• Hyper active kids don’t need medication.
• Books are always better than the movie.
• Pick up lines do work.
• Televise all court proceedings.
• Suspend referees that are found to show too much bias.
• There is no place for monarchs any more.
• It is false that no one is above the law.
• You tube needs to monitor comments.
• Online friends show more compassion.
• Cross cultural couples respect each other more.
• Graffiti must be recognised as art.
• You can loose weight without exercising.
• Children don’t play enough.
• Carpets are harmful and shouldn’t be in homes.
• Sex education doesn’t work.
• Ban smoking in all public places.
• Women cheat just as much as men.
• Prohibit destruction of rainforests.
• Global warming is a myth.
• Justice is never the same for all.
• Video games are not the blame of violence at school.
• Financial rewards is the only way employees stay loyal.
• The world isn’t only black and white.
• Give girls over 16 contraceptives without parents consent.
• Calories should be included in restaurant menus.
• Sugar tax won’t reduce obesity.
• Pregnancy as a result of rape should be terminated.
• All couples must live together before getting married.
• Animal testing is necessary.
• Children’s beauty pageants are wrong.
• There are not enough cameras in public spaces.
• Freedom of speech rights needs to be rewritten.
• Random DUI test should be done on parents picking up children after school.
• Atheists are more peaceful than religious people.
• Heterosexual men and women can be just friends.
• Adoptive parents need maternity leave too.
• Print advertisements don’t work.
• Click bate headlines are the cause of less followers.
• Don’t give children allowances.
• Stop checking in on social media.
• There would be more divorces if couples didn’t have children.
• Compensate organ donors.
• Celebrities are not role models.
• Do drug tests on welfare recipients.
• Stem cell research is murder.
• People should be considered adults at 21.
• Religion is the cause of war.
• Life was not easier a century ago.
• Men are better forgivers.
• Making substances illegal only makes people want them more.
• Parenting classes must be compulsory.
• Helicopter parents are damaging their children.
• Give working moms special privileges.
• Social media fame is a scam.
• Make paparazzi photographing children a criminal offence.
• Food should never be seen as a reward.
• 6 hours is not enough sleep for an adult.
• People can live without eating meat.
• Curfews do not keep teens out of trouble.
• Electronic textbooks don’t have the same impact as the printed version.
• This generation cannot fix anything.
• Boredom always leads to trouble.
• Girls are too mean to each other.
• Affirmative action isn’t right.
• School system is responsible for low test scores.
• Men should get paternity leave.
• Fast food needs to come with more warnings.
• Killing a murderer is immoral.
• Famous people must stay away from politics.
• Long distance relationships do work.
• Men are the stronger sex.
• Jobs shouldn’t be gender specific.
• Religion won’t die away.
• Women shouldn’t give birth after 40.
• Abortion is murder.
• Tattoos are an addiction.
• Drug addiction is a choice.
• Social media will run it’s course and die out.
• Caesarian sections are safer than normal births.
• There is a connection between science and religion.
• Never pay children for good grades.
• People in open marriages are not happy.
• The soul does exist.
• People’s salaries should reflect their performances.
• English will always be the business language of the world.
• Why you should always put yourself first.
• Earth has not been explored properly.
• Women are more intelligent than they give away.
• Alternatives to evolution exist.
• Prisons create criminals.
• Sick building syndromes exist.
• Strategic defense and ethics do not match.
• The War on Terror is based on a hidden agenda.
• Aging is a threat to pension funding.
• Airline safety restrictions won’t stop terrorists.
• Alcohol advertising stimulates underage alcohol use.
• All humans are spiritual in one way or another.
• Arts express the level of quality in different cultures.
• Atheists do care about Christmas.
• Australian aboriginal tattooing is art.
• Ban the filibuster from Congress.
• Body piercings can cause serious complications.
• Books are outdated.
• Censorship is a violation of freedom of speech.
• Charities must minimize the organizational and overhead costs.
• Child testimonies in abuse cases are not credible.
• Corporal punishment could be ethical, provided that it is proportional.
• Creative expression and creativity are not the same.
• Electronic baby timeshare does help to prevent teen pregnancy.
• English and Spanish should be the only languages in the world.
• Establishing democracy in Iraq is mission impossible.
• Fashion gurus have good reasons to promote skinny girls.
• Female genital mutilation is not unethical when done by cosmetic surgery doctors.
• Feminism will help improve the position of females in Africa.
• Fill in a country … should be condemned as human rights violator.
• Future generations have to keep their jobs until they drop.
• George Orwell was just right when he wrote his novel ‘1984’ … Big Brother is watching us all the time.
• Governments should not own news broadcasting corporations.
• Granting amnesty perpetuates immigration and makes border patrols fruitless.
• Harry Potter books are more popular among elderly persons.
• Hollywood movies have a bad influence on the world.
• Homelessness in rural areas is substantially undercounted compared to metropolitan and suburban areas.
• Hospitality is a valuable instrument to better foreign relationships.
• Houses affected by natural disasters should not be rebuilt.
• International satellite news broadcasting poses a threat to indigenous cultures.
• It is possible to be pro-life and pro-choice.
• It’s a myth that bottled water is better than tap water.
• Journalism codes are no longer respected by journalists.
• Limiting immigration is limiting opportunities.
• Link debt relief of developing countries to carbon emission reduction.
• Local aid to African communities is more effective than national aid.
• Mentally disabled people cannot be executed.
• Motivation courses only have one objective: to fund the instructor’s bank account.
• MP3 music belongs in the free public domain for educational institutions and the general public.
• News programs must be interesting rather than important.
• Open source software is better than Microsoft.
• Parental advisory labels hinder the freedom of speech of artists.
• People have the right to decide about their own life and death.
• Political correctness kills freedom of speech.
• Poverty can be cut by half in this century.
• Princess Diana’s death was not a tragic accident.
• Public insults should be considered as hate speech and should not be protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.
• Right to work laws are useless.
• Robin Hood was a not a hero.
• Sex and sexuality are from different hemispheres.
• Telling lies is a justifiable instrument.
• The local council elections in Cuba are no elections at all.
• The right to privacy is not absolute.
• There is no secure protection of property rights in developing countries.
• There should be cultural content quotas in broadcasting.
• Tobacco and alcohol billboards litter the streets.
• United Nations will never truly exist in Europe.
• Vegetarians would not eat vegetables if they were born in rural Africa.
• We should have a king instead of a president.
• Weblogs are intellectual property and therefore must be legally protected.
• With the current economic situation, we will all be working until we are old and grey.
• Zero tolerance is a useful instrument to prevent violence.

Here is our list of top interesting informative speech topics.

• A comparison of the official definition of terrorism in different parts of the world.
• A week of monastery life.
• Abu Sayyaf links to global terror organizations.
• Architectural movements in the late nineteenth century.
• Armed conflicts in Africa.
• Artificial intelligence opportunities.
• Biochemical weapons explained.
• Bioethics versus human rights.
• Combatting modern slavery.
• Debunking weight loss myths.
• Development goals of the United Nations.
• Everything we can find in our Solar System.
• Five ways to give and donate to charity funds.
• Forms of public diplomacy.
• Fraud detection systems explained.
• How giant sea aquariums are constructed.
• How nepotisms started in the Middle Ages.
• How the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is structured.
• How the American Civil War began.
• How the application for immigration and naturalization works.
• How the CIA can track terrorists.
• How to apply Feng Shui to your bedroom.
• How to outlaw reactionary conservative groups and individuals.
• Is it possible to clone humans?
• Major incidents and consequences in the first decade of this millennium.
• Middle East roadmap for peace.
• Migration trends.
• Offshore installation accidents over the years.
• Racism and cultural diversity in mass media.
• Refugees and forced displacement.
• Result on foreign aid funding in the long term.
• Scientific explanations for the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle.
• State sponsored tyranny explained.
• The 9/11 Commission assignment and its main conclusions.
• The best consumer electronics innovations to date.
• The chain of cargo and freight services at international airports.
• The difference between soft and hard drugs.
• The effect of counter terrorism legislation on ordinary people.
• The European convention on human rights explained.
• The flying fortress called Air Force One.
• The four general goals of the Homeland Security Department.
• The functions of Samurai warriors in Ancient Japan.
• The future of fashion.
• The Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war.
• The governing system of rules during the Middle Ages.
• The history of Amtrak.
• The innovative and unique styling of Dodge trucks.
• The long term complications of sunburn.
• The philosophical doctrine of Nihilism.
• The pros and cons of pacifism.
• The relations between federal budget deficit, national debt and trade balance.
• The role of Emperor Akihito in Japan.
• The secrets of crop circles revealed.
• The short history of the second man on the Moon, Buzz Aldrin.
• The struggle to patent computer software.
• The war costs in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Two party system compared multiple party systems.
• What is acne and what are its causes.
• Why the NASA shuttle program was stopped.
• Why the Romans built huge aqueducts in France.
• Venezuela and the constitutional power crisis.
• A diamond exploration certification system will not prevent conflict-diamonds trade.
• Handwriting analysis and how it reveals aspects of your personality.
• Hindu Cinema: not just Bollywood movies.
• How many disasters always happen at Christmas time.
• How sleepwalkers perform the most unusual things while asleep.
• Different lifestyles of generations.
• Importance of sleeping
• What makes me happy
• My ideal trip to Asia
• What would it be like to live with a famous person?
• If I were a volcano
• If l could the queen
• Benefits of being a vegetarian
• How girls worldwide are treated differently
• History of Mainamati in Bangladesh
• Broccoli flavored Oreos
• The Importance of public speaking
• A world without boundaries
• Stars and shooting stars
• How I came to school for the first time
• Conspiracy theories
• The pros and cons of being dead
• Confusing grammar
• When my birthday was there
• Importance of languages
• How to study effectively
• If I walked backwards
• The power of a lie
• Power of words
• If I was invisible
• Why I smile
• Fear of the unknown
• Fashion trends I hate
• Why do we have toes?
• Why I want to be a lawyer (or whatever job u pick)
• How colours affect your mood

Need a topic for your speech about an interesting persuasion statement?

Here are some of the best speech ideas and two easy informative subjects you can alter into a firm convincing claim.

Need other attracting ideas?

Check the navbar on the left and you will find thousands of special hints and tips for your public presentation 🙂

1. Whistleblower Protection Is Not Effective

• Whistleblower laws don’t protect against reprisals, disciplinary measures and spin from superiors.
• Huge companies have enough money to buy legal advice for a long period, laws offer employees no financial shield.
• Legislation often doesn’t address the issue itself, the problem, the allegations often are not investigated.

Another topic for your speech on business could be on fair trade:

2. Is Fair Trade Really Fair?

• Protectionism and markets are often stronger than fair trade appointments.
• Buying products is subsidizing poor farmers and manufacturers in developing countries. It isn’t helping them to make them stronger.
• It is anti-competitive and it undermines the economy in Third World nations.

And what do you think of this explosive persuasive topic for your speech?

3. Nuclear Power Is Dangerous Stuff

• An accident could cause thousands of fatalities and for billions of dollars property damage.
• There is no proper technology to handle radioactive waste material.
• Health risks for people working in the plant and for those who are living nearby could not be foreseen in advance and certainly not at the long term.
• Costs of nuclear plant safety measurements are very high.

And now two informative suggestions for a topic for your speech. But you easily transform them into some of the best speech ideas for persuasion speeches:

4. Checklist Before Taking A New Job

• A bigger company means more interesting job and task opportunities.
• It makes it possible to extend your existing network of trusted contacts.
• Like to travel abroad? Is it a Yes or No?
• How about the probability that you will keep your job – in other words what about the job security? What are the hidden clues?
• Is there a chance you can make you professional dreams and personal goals come true?
• How about the pay? Get all salary information, and decide on how much you want to earn from the start.
• Are there other requirements? Some personal wishes you would like to fulfill?

5. The Advantages Of Working In The Night

• No disturbing by telephone.
• No traffic jam.
• Not being awakened by the alarm clock in early morning hours …

You can think about the disadvantages too … Approach this subject from different sides and you double your opportunities!

89 Medical Speech Topic Ideas [Persuasive, Informative, Nursing]

292 Sports Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative]

10 thoughts on “259 Interesting Speech Topics [Examples + Outlines]”

Are you in the Now?

Renewable energy pros and cons.

I want to learn the most detailed writing. Am a New student and i need to improve my own My subject is an informative one : Ivorians women teaching in Abidjan universites.

I need more topics to choose from for my oral presentation

Hello, I’d appreciate it if you’d stop perpetuating falseties about global warming and climate change. They are very much real, and putting them on a list like this only further pushes the myth that they are false. These topics are not up for debate.

Some of these are really creative.

#184 made me laugh. As someone who grew up with Harry Potter, perhaps students these days will consider me an older person ha.

Regards, Chris

thaaaank you very much this is help me a lot

Thanks for the ideas!

A lot of these “creative” topics are not only offensive but help push distructive rhetoric.

this helped me out so much.was just sitting there lost about what to speak at the academic decathlon.thanks

Leave a Comment

I accept the Privacy Policy

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities

Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

© 2024 My Speech Class

• home 10-Minute Monologues
• home Audition Monologues
• home Publications
• home Videos
• home Drama Teachers
• home Monologue Masterclasses
• home Workshops
• home Coaching
• home (extra)ORDINARY, (un)USUAL
• home Act With Us
• home Produce Our Show
• home CONTACT
• home WORLD MONOLOGUE GAMES

    10-min monologues    

Our 10-minute monologues have been performed over 1,000 times in more than 25 countries and won dozens of awards. Some are free for download, others can be purchased.

A PSYCHOPATH  

Heard the one about a good guy with a dark past? This monologue is about a bad man with a bright past. Theo Carter tried his best to do the right thing by his fellow man, but he suffers from an acute lack of human empathy and a few years back he just stopped trying.

  DRAMA | MALE    

APOCALYPSE SOON  

After watching a zombie movie marathon, a young university student can't sleep thanks to the fear of impending apocalypse. Every day, preparations are made. Every night, the zombies find new ways around the defenses.

  DRAMA | MALE/FEMALE    

AUSTRALIA - DANGER ISLAND  

A shy young American comes to Australia for adventure and to understand the Aussie way.

CAPTAIN EVERYTHING  

Join Captain Everything, the superhero of all superheroes, on his quest to rescue Princess Prettyface. A fast-paced comedy adventure with a terrible twist.

  COMEDY/DRAMA | MALE    

CHECKOUT  

Corinne works for Coles. You might think she hates her job, but she's done far worse. Coles is the top of the bottom. But she's nothing but a robot being phased out by other robots.

  COMEDY/DRAMA | FEMALE    

COGS IN SOMETHING BIGGER  

A young jazz singer turned celebrity discovers the true nature of the machine that is Hollywood.

DRAMA | FEMALE    

CONCEPTION CONTROL  

Sebastian's wife wants a kid. Sebastian hates kids. But he doesn't want to lose his beautiful wife. What to do?

COMEDY | MALE    

CRY FOR ME  

Alicia has come from Argentina to Australia and found herself an unusual job that sees her attending a lot of funerals.

DARKEST MOMENT  

Jilly is cursed. Whenever she makes contact with a stranger she becomes them during their darkest moment.

DIGGING DEEP

Kieran Johannsen thinks life is unfair. His neighbour, Mark Grimshaw, inherited a bunch of money from his Great Aunt Edna and bought himself a Porsche Boxster. Not that Keiran's jealous.

DRAMA | MALE/FEMALE    

A staunch vegetarian finds himself in trouble with the law after visiting a seafood restaurant. But what exactly is making him feel so ill?

DRAMA | MALE    

DRAGULA  

Dracula is back. And so's Barry, the 35-year-old virgin plumber from Cootamundra.

  COMEDY | MALE    

If you like these scripts, please consider a small donation to thank the author.

FEELING PEACHY  

Princess Peach of Mario Bros fame is throwing a party. Will she thwart Bowser's latest kidnapping attempt?

  COMEDY | FEMALE    

FILLED TO EMPTY  

Junior has it all. Women, money, fast cars, success, intelligence, charisma. All he wants is to throw a huge fuck-off spanner in the works of his perfect life.

FINE DINE FAIL  

A failed fine dining experience — written as a beat poem.

  COMEDY | MALE/FEMALE    

FRENEMY  

Chloe is deadly. If you mess with her, you mess with fire. But she's getting a bit too chubby for her uggies and she has to be brought down a few sizes.

IF YOU'RE PAYING  

A young man who hates to spend money realises the government offers a stack of free services and pledges to get value for his tax dollar. A monologue for a mobility-impaired male.

IMAGINARY  

Dan has an imaginary friend, Yancey. The thing is, Yancey is a bit of a dick and got Dan in trouble at work. When Dan's colleague Jason brings his own imaginary friend in to beat up Yancey, things go downhill quickly.

KEEP CALM AND GO KILL YOURSELF  

    It’s nothing personal, but Oscar hates you.How can him hating you not be personal? Well, he hates pretty much everyone and by its very definition you can’t take a generalisation personally.    

MY KNIGHT IN DULL ARMOUR  

Cara lives with domestic violence. Her Daddy comes home late at night, drunk, and screams at her Mama. When her boyfriend Dale comes around unexpectedly one night, he becomes her knight in shining armour and whisks her away from danger. Dale doesn't want anything to happen to her, so he locks the doors and puts bars on the windows. Cara's world starts to shrink as she becomes a prisoner in her own house. An exploration of the psychological side of domestic violence.

"MY NAME IS STEVE" "HI STEVE"  

Steve has an addictive personality. First it was cigarettes, then Mars Bars, then the gym. How will he get over his addiction to addictions?

COMEDY/DRAMA | MALE    

NO DAY OFF  

Do those fleeting moments of pure joy make the unrelenting battle of motherhood worth it?

QUIET FRIDAY  

Gordon's life is filled with noise. The leafblower, his loud colleagues, babies, TVs, possums, leafblowers, screaming children. His only saving grace is the one silent morning each week. Quiet Friday. So when the neighbour starts renovating their kitchen and bathroom, Gordon starts losing his thread.

SAVED FROM SYMPATHY  

A small child, begging on the street, is met by a good samaritan who wishes them a better life.

SCREAMS AND WHISPERS  

A teenager discovers a latent power - the ability to communicate telepathically with animals. Problem is, they don't speak English. They just fill your head with barks and meows and... whatever noise a possum makes.

COMEDY | MALE/FEMALE    

SELLING SYMPATHY  

The world of beggars can be tragic, demanding and oftentimes full of sacrifices. Especially for a beggar boss.

SENSATION  

Roanna, or Ro-Wanda as she calls herself, is determined to go viral online.

COMEDY | FEMALE    

SHALLOW, QUICK  

What it's like to buy chocolate when you suffer from severe social anxiety.

COMEDY/DRAMA | MALE/FEMALE    

SPAM FOR DUMMIES  

A spam coach works with his contracted staff to compose the perfect spam email.

SPOOF APP  

No one messes with Dylan. No one. So when Foster laughs at him in English, he's invited himself into a world of bad.

THAT TIME HAROLD BORGENSTEIN WENT SPEED DATING AND GOT TAKEN OVER BY ALL OF THE GREEK GODS  

Harold Borgenstein goes speed dating and is unexpectedly possessed by not one but nine Greek Gods.

THE DEVIL'S AFTERSHAVE  

The story of a man with an incredibly heightened sense of smell, and his journeys to the memories of a dark past.

THE FLOWERS  

At an early age, Sam discovers an unusual 'gift.' Everyone and everything dies whenever Sam is near. So will Sam's quest to grow some flowers bear any fruit?

THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE  

A wedding day is the happiest day of a girl's life, right? So... what happens when the day's over? Is it all downhill? The story of a young woman's desperate search for happiness.

THE HELPER  

A hero runs into a burning building. But do they always help for the right reason?

THE KEY  

Jonny has the biggest surprise lined up for Amy. She has no idea what's coming and it's going to blow her mind. But Jonny's in for a bit of a surprise himself.

THE LONG GAME  

Paul is your everyday man. He's married with two kids, works in accounting, watches the cricket and loves a good chutney. When he (accidentally) goes to a gay bar and meets Ian, a dangerous obsession starts to grow.

THE RISE OF SIR EDMUND  

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to summit Mount Everest. This monologue is the most accurate record ever kept of his epic journey with his trusty sidekick Tenzing Norgay. TENZING!

THE STORY OF DARLING BROWN  

Darling Brown wants to know why her parents gave her such a ridiculous first name. With a twin called Jesse, she could never understand what they were thinking. Until, that is, she stumbles across an armed robbery at a local newsagent.

THE WATCHER  

A hero runs into a burning building. A coward runs away. But what goes on in the mind of the person who likes to watch?

UNEXPECTED TURNS OF EVENTS  

A psychotic spouse, a son called Edgard, a high-powered client, a stolen bicycle and a toothless Uber driver. Each event is more unexpected than the last.

V.D.  

This one-woman comedy explores the life of Sophie, a 35-year-old romantic who likes a bit too much gin. We join her as she falls in and out of love, struggles with power plays in her new job, and travels to India on a journey of spiritual (un)enlightenment.

Trump’s rambling speeches raise questions about mental decline

Amna Nawaz Amna Nawaz

Karina Cuevas Karina Cuevas

Azhar Merchant Azhar Merchant

Leave your feedback

• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trumps-rambling-speeches-raise-questions-about-mental-decline

If he wins the election, Donald Trump would be the oldest president ever elected. After several appearances where his remarks were rambling or incoherent, and one event in which he swayed silently to music on stage for close to 40 minutes, questions are being raised about possible cognitive decline. Amna Nawaz discussed those concerns with author and clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis.

Read the Full Transcript

Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

Amna Nawaz:

If he is reelected, former President Donald Trump, now 78 years old, would be the oldest president ever elected. After a number of appearances where his remarks were rambling or incoherent, and one event in which he swayed silently to music on stage for close to 40 minutes, questions are being raised about possible cognitive decline.

Here are a couple of recent events that sparked concern, the first one in which he began talking about electric vehicles, then switched to a story about an electrically powered boat.

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: Let's see your boat goes down, and I'm sitting on top of this big powerful battery, and the boat's going down. Do I get electrocuted?

Donald Trump:

And he said: "You know what? Honestly, nobody's ever asked me that question."

But if I'm sitting down and that boat's going down and I'm on top of a battery, and the water starts flooding in, I'm getting concerned. But then I look 10 yards to my left and there's a shark over there. So I have a choice of electrocution or a shark. You know what I'm going to take? Electrocution. I will take electrocution every single time.

Let's listen to Pavarotti sing "Ave Maria." Can you hear that?

Mr. Trump has dismissed any speculation about mental decline, describing his rambling rhetoric as him weaving together different topics and saying his supporters get it.

Let's take a look at some of these questions with an author and clinical psychologist who's raised some of them. That's Dr. Ben Michaelis.

Doctor, welcome to the "News Hour." Thanks for joining us.

Dr. Ben Michaelis, Clinical Psychologist:

Thank you for having me.

So, Doctor, both his political opponents, but also some academics, look at his speech patterns, they look at his stories and some odd behavior and they say it's all evidence of mental decline. Do you see it that way? Are those concerns valid?

Dr. Ben Michaelis:

So, obviously, I can't diagnose someone in absentia, but, certainly, there is ample evidence.

And, look, he's 78 years old. Just to be fair, all of us tend to decline over time. Some of what we're seeing is pretty extreme elements of his decline that are certainly suggestive of more serious impairment.

Well, tell us a bit more about what you see that says that to you, especially in terms of who he is today versus a year ago or even to Trump of 2016.

So, I did an analysis for STAT News about seven years ago, looking at the complexity of his speech from when he was in his 40s to when he was running for president back in 2016. And at that time, there was definitely a difference both in his sentence structure and in the complexity of his vocabulary between from when he was, say, in 40s to when he was in his earlier later 60s or earlier 70s.

What's happened between 2016, 2017 and now is not so much a difference in the vocabulary. The vocabulary is not significantly less complex than it was, but it's in the thought patterns. So he's not staying linear. So, right now, we're having a conversation. We're staying on topic. You're asking questions. I'm responding. And what we're saying kind of has a sort of hand-in-glove quality to it.

But what we're seeing with Trump is, basically, he's moving further and further away from linearity, from linearity to tangentiality, so he's sort of weaving together ideas, and then it's moving further afield towards circumstantiality. And that's really where you sort of start talking about a topic, and then you just really sort of lose the thread entirely.

And there's a lot of that we're seeing in his speech patterns.

Now, as you know, there are others who see this differently, and they think that his speech patterns, his remarks, his behavior don't necessarily suggest anything, especially cognitive decline.

Among them are Dr. Jamie Reilly, he's director of a cognition lab at Temple University. Here's part of what he had to say.

Dr. Jamie Reilly, Temple University:

There are people who count syllables, and they count the speech rate, and they count the number of things like how much he curses and things like that, and have noted changes. They have noted changes in his syntax, the grammatical complexity of his language.

The question of whether that is a marker of a cognitive — of a disease process is really, really tricky. So, when you read that literature, you will see that people note that there are changes, but they don't take that next step of saying, this is a marker of something, right? We just know that there are some changes happening, and sometimes people run with that, and they say this is evidence for something, but I'm not sure you can make that leap at all.

Dr. Michaelis, what do you make of that? Is that a leap too far to make?

So, again, not making a formal diagnosis of dementia — you need to actually assess him formally and face-to-face in order to do that. You can't diagnose anyone in absentia.

But what we're seeing is real, and it's — part of the challenge is, so, look, again, he's 78 years old. If this was your grandfather, you probably wouldn't think twice about it. Again, we all decline with age. What I'm seeing is more challenges with the thought processes, that, again, I'm not saying that he has dementia, but they are suggestive of, if you sort of took this all in totality, right?

So, problems with memory loss, communication difficulties, changes in mood, poor judgment, personality changes, those in total are what really the symptoms of dementia. And there's certainly evidence to suggest, and I think it is a reasonable thing to think about this.

I mean, this is a person that is running for the most powerful office in the world. And I think we should be very thoughtful about who we're putting in that office, because these are real concerns. His decisions were he to be reelected affect all of us.

You mentioned dementia specifically. There's a family history I want to ask you about, because his father, Fred Trump, was diagnosed with dementia. Does that mean anything for a former President Trump's likelihood of also potentially developing dementia?

Again, it just increases the odds. We know these things run in families. There's certainly evidence of that. And there are sort of genetic markers that you can certainly take tests for to see.

But all that does is increase the odds. So you take that information, which — as well as all the different things that you're seeing, and it paints a picture. And what I'm hoping to do is just put a little bit of a spotlight on this, so that people make an informed decision about who they are putting in the Oval Office. That's all.

Separate and apart from any formal diagnosis, there are those who say, look, this is just who President Trump is and has always been, right, that he occasionally speaks this way and tells incoherent stories and uses more brash and aggressive language. It's just Trump being Trump and has nothing to do with cognitive decline.

Could that be it? Could it just be personality?

I mean, I suppose, but, look, he — the fact of the matter is that he is an entertaining — he's an entertainer fundamentally, and people — he's entertaining to watch for people.

So if you're not trained in this, you may be focused only on — and he has a lot of vigor. Let's be very clear. For a 70-year-old man, he has a lot of vigor. And so you're focusing on those things, but not the sort of total picture of what we're seeing.

And this isn't — from my perspective, this is not just sort of Trump being Trump. Like, if you look at footage for him over the last few years, he seems to be becoming more and more circumstantial, I mean, this idea about sort of starting talking about electric cars and then moving to sharks, and then this sort of digression with music the other day, where he was swaying to music for 30 minutes, and then using more and more sort of derogatory language.

Again, it just paints a concerning picture.

What would it take to definitively answer or quiet these concerns?

Look, I think that anyone that is running for office, and certainly the highest office in the land, should be evaluated by an independent evaluator, not someone that is appointed by his team or by the opposition, by someone that is truly independent. And maybe it's three independent evaluators.

But that seems appropriate to me, right? We license people to drive. When you're behind the wheel of a two-ton death machine, you could harm people. And think about the power that is invested in the presidency. So it just seems appropriate to do a formal evaluation of him.

That is clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis joining us tonight.

Dr. Michaelis, thank you for your time. We appreciate it.

Listen to this Segment

Watch the Full Episode

Amna Nawaz serves as co-anchor of PBS News Hour.

Azhar Merchant is Associate Producer for National Affairs.

Support Provided By: Learn more

More Ways to Watch

Educate your inbox.

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.