1. Making Better Presentations in English by Andrew D. Miles
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

2. Start your speech with a phrase that catches the public’s attention.
1. SIGNAL THE START
Start your speech with a phrase that catches the public’s attention.
Right ladies and gentlemen
Shall we begin?
Fine everybody. Let’s get started
OK Guys. Are you all ready?
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

3. Mention your name, position and where you come from.
2. INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Mention your name, position and where you come from.
I’d like to introduce myself. I am Steve Platt, Chief of Maintenance for Motorway Inc.
I am Dr. Jack Smith from Barcelona. I work as a research assistant in our R&D facility.
My name is John Styles. I run Riversoft’s European operations.
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

4. Always ask people how they would like to be introduced.
3. …OR SOMEONE ELSE
Always ask people how they would like to be introduced.
I’d like you to meet Dr Grant. She’s the Head Surgeon at Houston Memorial Hospital.
Let me introduce John Oats. He comes from the Helsinki branch and will be joining our sales team.
This is Arthur Spleen, from Marketing.
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

5. Start by saying why you’re here.
4. EXPRESS PURPOSE
Start by saying why you’re here.
I’m here today to…
What I’d like to do is…
My objective is to…
My aim now is to…
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

6. 5. LIST TOPICS Make a list of the points you’ll talk about.
Then
Next
Last but not least
Finally
To end
Firstly
To start
Secondly
Initially
Primarily
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

7. Open every topic with an introduction.
6. INTRODUCE TOPIC ONE
Open every topic with an introduction.
I’d like to review…
I want to go over…
We are going to analyse…
I plan to examine…
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

8. Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles
7. LINK EFFECT TO CAUSE
Use these expressions if you want to highlight the effect over the cause.
The loss was due to negligence.
The loss was caused by negligence.
The loss resulted from negligence.
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

9. Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles
8. LINK CAUSE TO EFFECT
Use these expressions if you want to highlight the cause over the effect.
Mismanagement led to losses.
Mismanagement resulted in losses.
Mismanagement caused losses.
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

10. Use these expressions to describe graphic aids.
9. EXPLAIN GRAPHS
Use these expressions to describe graphic aids.
I´d like you to see this graph. It shows…
Please observe this matrix. You’ll see that…
Have a look at this model. What’s wrong with it?
Let me show you a chart that summarises…
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

11. 10. DESCRIBE TRENDS Use these expressions to talk about
Increase
Accumulate
Boost
Escalate
Hike
Raise
Rise
Shoot up
Swell
Decline
Diminish
Dip
Drop
Plunge
Shrink
Sink
Slip
Descend
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

12. Use these expressions to express certainty.
11. EXPRESS PROBABILITY
Use these expressions to express certainty.
Surety: sure, definite, doubtless, inevitable, without question, unmistakable, certain.
Likelihood: Probable probable, likely, seeming, expected.
Possibility: possible, conceivable, feasible.
Doubt: doubtful, improbable, unlikely, questionable, remote, dubious, unsure.
Impossibility: impossible, unfeasible, unrealisable, unattainable, not viable.
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

13. 12. COMPARE IDEAS Use these expressions to describe contrast.
But
However
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
Although
Though
Despite
Despite
On the other hand
Even though
On the contrary
By contrast
Conversely
Even if
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

14. Use these expressions to emphasize ideas.
13. REINFORCE IDEAS
Use these expressions to emphasize ideas.
Furthermore
in addition
as well as
Besides
Too
Moreover
Additionally
likewise
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

15. Use these expressions to give your opinion.
14. EXPRESS OPINION
Use these expressions to give your opinion.
My opinion is
I would say
In my view
It seems to me that
From my angle
I see it as
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

16. Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles
15. RECOMMEND / REJECT
Give support
I urge you to approve
We are for the idea
We back your point
We support the plan
I would go ahead
I’ll stand by you.
Hold back support
I’d deny support
I would eliminate
We should reject
We must rule out
We ought to discard
Let’s refuse
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

17. Use these expressions to close your presentation.
16. FINISH THE SPEECH
Use these expressions to close your presentation.
Move to action:
Now’s the time to / We’d better move.
Refer back to…:
Going back to our figures / As I said before
Summarise:
To sum up / To recapitulate
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles

18. Use these expressions to wrap up your speech
17. CLOSE THE SPEECH
Use these expressions to wrap up your speech
Asking for questions
Have you got any query? / Would you like to ask?
Thanking
Thank you for / It’s been a pleasure to
Introduce the next speaker
Now, I’ll leave you with / I’d like to introduce
Say goodbye
Goodbye / Good afternoon, everyone
Making Better Presentations in English by A. D. Miles