The Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Writing a Speech (and How to Stop Butchering Your Message)

Introduction

Writing a speech is an art. It’s not just about throwing words together and hoping they stick. A great speech is a mixture of clarity, persuasion, and a little bit of magic. But most people? They approach speechwriting like a botched DIY project—hammering random ideas together, drowning the audience in a sea of words, and somehow expecting applause at the end.

If you want to write a speech that actually works—that engages, persuades, and maybe even earns you a standing ovation—avoid these 10 classic mistakes. Because let’s be honest, you don’t want your speech to be that speech. You know, the one where people start checking their watches, scrolling on their phones, or worse—nodding off.

1. Lack of a Clear Purpose (aka, What Are You Even Talking About?)

Most bad speeches suffer from the same fatal flaw: they don’t have a point. Instead of making a single, clear argument, the speaker tries to cover everything. They want to inspire, educate, entertain, and maybe even squeeze in a TED Talk-worthy personal story. The result? A mushy, directionless blob of words that leaves the audience wondering why they’re still sitting there.

Here’s the fix: Before you write a single word, ask yourself, What’s the one thing I want my audience to remember? If you can’t summarise your speech in one clear sentence, you’re not ready to start writing. Get clarity, then build from there.

2. Not Knowing the Audience (Because Guess What? It’s Not About You)

Ever sat through a speech where the speaker clearly thought they were the most interesting person in the room? It’s painful. A great speech isn’t about the speaker—it’s about the audience. And yet, too many people write as if they’re speaking into a mirror.

Want to know how to lose an audience in ten seconds flat? Use jargon they don’t understand. Reference something that has zero relevance to their lives. Assume they care about your pet topic as much as you do.

Solution: Do your homework. Find out who your audience is, what they care about, and how they think. If you’re speaking to university students, don’t structure your speech like a corporate board meeting. If you’re addressing a group of scientists, don’t start with “The Oxford English Dictionary defines science as…” Seriously, don’t.

3. Weak Opening (No One Cares About Your Credentials… Yet)

The first 30 seconds of your speech are everything. Nail it, and people lean in. Flub it, and they mentally check out. So what do most people do? They waste those crucial seconds saying something like:

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honour to be here today. I’d like to thank [long list of names] for having me.”

Great. Now half the audience is already daydreaming about lunch.

Instead, grab attention from the first sentence. Start with a bold statement. A surprising fact. A provocative question. Even a well-placed joke. Anything but the usual dull pleasantries. You’re not writing an email to your boss—you’re trying to hook a live audience. Act like it.

4. Too Much Information (aka, The Firehose of Boredom)

Some speakers seem to believe that the more they say, the more impressive they sound. So they pack their speech with every statistic, every historical reference, and every thought they’ve ever had on the topic.

The problem? People don’t remember everything. They remember the best things. So if you overload them with a verbal Wikipedia page, their brains will do what brains do best—tune out.

What’s the solution? Edit ruthlessly. Aim for simplicity, not complexity. Make one powerful point, back it up with a great example, and then move on.

5. Poor Structure (Your Speech is Not a Maze—Stop Making Us Get Lost)

Some speeches jump from topic to topic like a caffeinated rabbit—no transitions, no flow, just a scattered mess of ideas. The audience spends half the time trying to figure out how Point A relates to Point B and wondering if they missed something important.

Here’s the deal: A great speech has structure. The classic approach? Start with an engaging intro, make your key points in a logical order, and close with a strong takeaway. If you’re unsure, try the “Problem-Solution” format (identify a problem, then offer a compelling solution). Or use a simple “Past-Present-Future” approach. Just don’t wing it.

6. Overuse of Jargon or Complex Language (Why Are You Making This Harder Than It Needs to Be?)

You know what makes a speech sound intelligent? Clarity. You know what doesn’t? Filling it with jargon, buzzwords, and convoluted sentences that make people feel like they’re reading a legal contract.

A simple test: Read your speech out loud. If it sounds like something a normal human being wouldn’t actually say,rewrite it. Because if people have to work too hard to understand you, they’ll stop trying.

7. No Engaging Stories or Examples (Congratulations, You’re Now a Textbook)

Facts inform. Stories persuade. If you want to make an impact, you need both. Yet, so many speakers rely entirely on facts, assuming that logic alone will win the day. Spoiler alert: It won’t.

Great speeches include stories—real ones, personal ones, ones that make people feel something. So instead of listing out a dry set of points, illustrate them with compelling examples. Give your audience a reason to care.

8. Weak Conclusion (You’re Almost There… Don’t Trip at the Finish Line)

You’ve made your points. You’ve kept them engaged. And then… you just stop. No conclusion. No final thought. Just an awkward ending that leaves people wondering if you’re done or just pausing for dramatic effect.

Endings matter. A great speech leaves the audience with something to hold onto—a powerful call to action, a memorable story, a challenge to think differently. Think of your closing words as the last thing your audience will remember. Make them count.

9. Ignoring the Power of Delivery (Because Writing and Speaking Are Not the Same Thing)

Some speeches read beautifully on paper but fall flat when spoken. Why? Because writing for reading is different from writing for speaking. What looks elegant in an essay might sound robotic when delivered aloud.

Here’s the fix: Write for the ear, not the eye. Use short sentences. Add rhythm. Include intentional pauses. Read your speech out loud as you write it to ensure it flows naturally.

10. Not Practising Enough (aka, The “I’ll Wing It” Disaster)

If you think you can just write a speech, glance over it once, and then deliver it flawlessly… well, good luck with that. Even the best speakers rehearse—a lot. They practise in front of a mirror. They record themselves. They refine their timing, their pauses, their emphasis.

Why? Because even the greatest words in the world mean nothing if they’re delivered poorly. So don’t just write your speech—own it.

Conclusion

The difference between a forgettable speech and a great one? Avoiding these mistakes. Be clear. Be engaging. Be structured. And above all, respect your audience’s time and attention.

Because the world doesn’t need more boring, rambling, confusing speeches. It needs you—with a message that’s worth listening to.

Now go write something great. And for the love of all that is good, practise it.

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