Dave Bricker: Want to expand your speaking and storytelling skills and grow your influence business? This is Speakipedia Media brought to you by speakipedia .com. I’m your host, Dave Bricker, bringing you straight talk, strategies, and amazing stories from visionary … More ☛
The Oxford comma, or serial comma is a subject of constant debate among writers. Do we need that comma before the last item on a list? Even without a list, the comma is an important determiner of meaning. Time to … More ☛
Few subjects arouse more passion among writers and designers than the debate over how many spaces should follow a period. If you adhere to a style manual, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t specify a single-space. Chicago and … More ☛
One question that loops endlessly on writers’ forums is “How can I sell more books?” The question is a natural one, but for many self-publishers, it betrays a certain lack of awareness about the publishing business. Lest I sound holier … More ☛
The word processor has placed new burdens on writers to understand how to use italics, big and small capitals, dashes, hyphens, initials, etc. Writers who do their own typesetting often produce mediocre results. Likewise, trade publishers sacrifice typographic aesthetics when … More ☛
A diatribe is a forceful and bitter verbal attack. It’s often a prolonged discourse full of passion and anger, making it a powerful rhetorical device when used strategically. In public speaking, a diatribe can stir emotions or galvanize an audience … More ☛
Aposiopesis is a rhetorical device where the speaker deliberately breaks off and leaves the sentence unfinished, letting the audience complete the thought in their own minds. This can be used to convey overwhelming emotion or to imply something without stating … More ☛
Pay attention! This video will reveal new insights into Barnabus T. Hollings famous HBX Success Method—a sure path to instantaneous fame and wealth! A red herring is a plot element that misleads or distracts from the relevant or important issue. … More ☛
Paralipsis, a rhetorical device that involves bringing up a subject by either denying it or pretending to pass over it. This is a clever way to draw attention to something while maintaining a veneer of detachment. A political speaker might … More ☛
When you’re asked to argue in favor of a position, your opponent may counter with the absolutist position: Let’s say the debate topic is whether or not ANY and ALL subjects should be allowable in high school debate competitions. Your … More ☛
A debate team researched their position well and amassed a stockpile of arguments that were certain to throw their opponents out of the ring by the time they finished their opening statement. And then they undid themselves: I won’t even … More ☛
Whether you’re debating alone or on a team, the way you treat your opponents will affect your credibility. When asserting the superiority of your arguments, it can be tempting to denigrate the other team: My opponents are clearly ignorant of … More ☛
Words and Terms related to speaking and speechwriting: Adynaton [ad-uh-NAY-ton]: A form of hyperbole in which the exaggeration is so extreme as to be impossible “You will sooner find a donkey flying than see me agree to that deal.” Allegory … More ☛
You’ve probably read about OpenAI and how artificial intelligence has come of age. It’s easy enough to generate articles and blog posts using tools such as ChatGPT, and if they turn out a bit too academic or clinical, you can … More ☛
How do you handle a one-star review? Capable leaders are adept at untangling the many stories that compete for attention when problems need solving and egos need soothing. I monitor a FaceBook page for a local chapter of a national … More ☛
