Language is a tool that helps you communicate your message to your audience. Sloppy and imprecise language, however, can interfere with your communication. Here are six tips for eliminating sloppy language:
1.
Mind your grammar
You don't have to
be a grammarian to follow basic grammar rules.
I'm not talking about split infinitives or dangling participles, but
basic grammar like verb tenses and pronoun usage. Avoid grammar mistakes such as, "we was
going" or "him and me went." Check out Lynn Gaertner-Johnston’s
blog http://www.businesswritingblog.com/
for grammar rules for writing that are also applicable for speaking.
2.
"We" vs. "They"
If you are a part
of a group or business and you are referring to the members of that group or
business, demonstrate that you're part of the team by using "we"
rather than "they." I've heard employees say "they have to
achieve these goals," when referring to their own company. Using "they" makes it sound like
you're not a team player and that you don't believe you can contribute to the
success. If it doesn't come naturally to
think of yourself as "we" and part of the group, then practice saying
(and believing) it.
3.
Get rid of the weak, minimizing words
Words like "sorta,"
"just," or "kinda" minimize the impact of your
message. And stringing a few of them
together, as in, "I'm just gonna
discuss" or "it's just kinda like" makes it worse. Instead, use definitive, strong, precise
phrases like, "I will discuss" or "it is."
4.
Cut out the fillers
Words like "um," "ah,"
and "you know" become verbal crutches and overusing them can make you
sound like you're unsure of what to say next.
Instead of using filler words, pause and take a breath – and then move
on to your next words.
5.
Beware the throwaways
"Throwaways"
are the words or phrases that come out of your mouth when your brain has
already moved onto the next sentence. Examples
include phrases like "and that kind of stuff" and "and all the
rest of it." Either list out
specifically what you mean, or have a deliberate end to the sentence rather
than using a throwaway and trailing off…
6.
Do you really mean that?
Think about the
words you're saying – their meaning and how can they be interpreted. I once heard a healthcare company manager say
to senior leadership at his company, "as people become more health
conscious, it could be detrimental to us." Several executives
cringed. I don't think he really meant
to indicate that business and life would be better if people were less health
conscious and thus, became sicker, but that's how it sounded. He could have rephrased the sentence so it
didn't sound like the company was eager for people to get sick. What if he had
said that to the shareholders or to the public?
To become conscious of the words that you're saying,
practice, record yourself and get feedback from someone. You can learn to avoid the sloppy language
that interferes with your ability to communicate your message and prevents your
audience from understanding what you want to say.
by Gilda Bonanno LLC
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