Houston Business University

How would you improve your verbal communication to be very articulate and use words in a correct way?

Rather than falter, stammer, or whatnot. What do you know? How can anyone improve their verbal communication skills if it's hard for them? How can they become more articulate? What does it take to use words in the dictionary / SAT Words correctly? My verbal abilities are in the below average range (SS-88). Give me some steps and I'll follow them the best I can.

Public Comments

1. Read, read, read. Read the newspaper everyday (not so much your local newspaper, try something like the New York Times (and maybe something from a different political view)). You'll learn new words and see how they are used correctly. Subscribe to a word-of-the-day (dictionary.com has one) listserv. Read the definitions and read the sentences with their usage OUTLOUD. Then use that word at least 3 times in a sentence that day so you become familiar with their usage and applicability. If you have time add other books of interest to your reading list. Classics and intellectually stimulating books are the way to go. Watch the national news (CNN, etc) and listen to National Public Radio (NPR) so you hear how people speak. Last, evaluate who you surround yourself with. If possible seek out people you feel are eloquent and talk to them. It also would not hurt to try other things that are intellectually stimulating. They may not relate directly to eloquence, but they will help (and you'll acquire topics to talk about other than news). Try going to the theatre, seeing independent films, check out museums (get and actually READ the little pamphlets), or do whatever else interests you. In a nutshell, surround yourself with everything that exemplifies how you want to change, and practice often. Best of luck.