The Challenge of Speaking Concisely in English
When you're learning English, one of the hardest things is learning to be concise. Even if you have a good level of English, with strong vocabulary and grammar, it’s easy to over-explain or repeat yourself. You want to make sure people understand you, so you may say the same thing in different ways. But this can actually make your message less clear.
I work with a lot of French-speakers, who think that showing off all the wonderful language you know and making beautiful, long sentences is the way to be eloquent. However, in English and especially in business contexts, being clear and direct is very important. People prefer short and precise communication. Whether you’re giving a presentation, participating in a meeting, or just having a casual conversation, being concise helps your message come across more effectively.
Focus on Your Key Message
You may feel that to really get your key message across to your audience, you need to repeat it in a lot of different ways. But in fact, the more you repeat yourself, the less impactful your message will be. I always tell my clients to "stop waffling!"**
To speak more concisely, always keep your main idea in mind. Before any important conversation, take a moment to think about the key point you want to communicate. You could even write it on a sticky note to keep it in front of you as you speak.
When answering questions or giving information, avoid giving too many details or repeating yourself. Instead, focus on saying your key message clearly. This will make you sound more confident and professional while helping your audience understand you better.
Use Technology to Improve
You can also use AI tools to help you become more concise. Some language learning platforms use AI to give you feedback on your communication.
In our language coaching, we use the A Star Yoodli AI Coaching Tool. It analyses how you speak and gives tips for making your communication clearer and more concise. If you’d like to see how it works, book a demo with us!
Tips for Concise Presentations and Conversations
Whether you're giving a formal presentation or just chatting with someone, these strategies can help you communicate more effectively:
Start with the most important point: Plan what you want to say and share the key information first, then add more details if needed.
Choose precise words: Avoid vague language. Use words that clearly express your ideas. This may take practice, but it will make a big difference.
Avoid filler words: Words like "um," "uh," or "you know" can make you sound less professional. Practice removing these from your speech. The AI tool we use is great for helping with this!
Practise regularly: The more you practice being concise, the easier it becomes. Role-playing, public speaking exercises, or simply being mindful in everyday conversations can help.
Why Conciseness Matters
Learning to be concise in English has many benefits for you and your audience.
You’ll sound more professional: Clear and concise communication shows confidence and competence.
Your audience will stay engaged: When you’re direct, people can follow your ideas more easily and won’t lose focus.
You’ll save time: Saying what you mean without extra repetition makes communication quicker and more effective.
You’ll build stronger connections: Respecting people’s time and attention helps you create better relationships. You know that if you have to give information to top managers in your job, they usually want the facts, quickly.
Stop speaking!
Becoming concise in English takes practice, but it’s a skill worth developing. By focusing on your key messages, using helpful tools like AI, and applying these strategies, you’ll become a clearer, more confident communicator.
Remember, being concise is notjsut about saying less—it’s about saying what matters most. With regular practice, you’ll feel more professional and credible when you're speaking English with a level of precision and professionalism that sets you apart from the crowd.
The main thing is to stop after you've delivered your key message and wait for feedback from your audience.
**to waffle has nothing to do with the waffle that you eat, it means to talk a lot but not really say anything clearly.
Comments