
Quote a lesser-known expert in the field, but only with background context.Quote Aristotle on philosophy or Serena Williams on tennis - doing the opposite gets you in trouble. Quote a well-known expert in the field.ĭon’t quote individuals based purely on their fame or success base your decision on their expertise in the subject area you are talking about.A quotation taken out of context where you’ve garbled the meaning makes you look like you are deliberately misleading your audience. Make sure you understand the intent of the speaker, not only their words. Your credibility is on the line.īe careful when quoting material on controversial topics. Make sure you get the phrasing correct.Ī quotation should boost your credibility, but quoting inaccurately weakens your credibility.But how do you do it? Who should you quote? When should you give the quotation? Read on to discover numerous tips for using quotes effectively in your presentations. Okay, you are convinced of the benefits of incorporating quotations into your speech. This creates a natural and purposeful pause in your vocal delivery, allowing you to check your notes, take a sip of water, and collect your thoughts. If you are delivering with visuals, you might choose to display the quotation on a slide and let your audience read it.Conversely, you might choose a quotation which adds humor to your presentation, due to the content of the quote or perhaps the person you are quoting.For example, if you begin “Microsoft founder Bill Gates once said…” followed by a pause, then your audience will surely anticipate your next words. Depending on how you deliver the quotation, you can create anticipation, suspense, or drama.Audiences get bored if you offer a one-dimensional string of arguments of the same type.


There are numerous benefits to crafting quotations into your speech, including: Benefits of Using Quotations in Your Speech
