As I was browsing through one of my regular public speaking sites, I found a post that highlighted some of the actual newspaper headlines.

Most were excruciatingly funny, some ludicrious to say the least. But all points to one lesson: double check and triple check what you are going to say before you even say it.. One short of a comma may create quite a misunderstanding for example “Two sisters reunited after 18 years at checkout counter.” Without the comma, we would think that the sisters have been stuck at the checkout counter for 18 years which we all know is ridiculous. In writing, you would want to put a comma between “years” and “at” to indicate that they reunited at the checkout counter. In speaking, you would use a short pause to represent the comma. However, I would rather you do this instead: “After 18 years, the two sisters finally reunited at the checkout counter.” Much clearer, don’t you think? End of lesson.

And now for some laughs…

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers

Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case

Iraqi Head Seeks Arms

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

Include Your Children when Baking Cookies

Clinton Wins on Budget, But More Lies Ahead

Plane Too Close to Ground, Crash Probe Told

Miners Refuse to Work after Death

Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant

Stolen Painting Found by Tree (Eric: My favorite. That must be one hell of a tree!)

War Dims Hope for Peace

If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last a While

Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

Enfields Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

New Vaccine May Contain Rabies

Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge

Cheers,
Eric Feng
Your Speech Coach

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P.S: Have you read the previous post? Interested to learn seven speaking strategies that can radically improve your public speaking skills? Click link to learn how.

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