When I retired from the U.S. Air Force some years ago, my wife, Elaine, asked what I would like as a retirement present. My response might puzzle you.

I asked if she could give me the Verbal Advantage: Ten Easy Steps to a Powerful Vocabulary Program. Verbal Advantage is a program for teaching 3,500 vocabulary words that successful people need to know.

It is available as a softcover book from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It is also available as ten separate apps for your phone for Levels 1 – 10. Search your App app for “Verbal Advantage.” The ten apps correspond to Levels 1 – 10 of the Program.

So why did I ask for this gift?

When I retired from the U.S. Air Force, I had already been a Toastmaster for ten years, and I knew whatever I did in my post-Air Force career would revolve around words. I was correct.

There are studies that show the number of words for which we know the distinct definitions and how to use them in our conversation, writing, and public speaking is directly proportional to our income. Believe it or not.

The people in our society with the most extensive vocabularies are CEOs, military generals/admirals, and people in high political office.

In-kind, the most successful speakers are those with the most extensive vocabularies.

Your vocabulary may be the most crucial tool in your “speaker’s toolbox.” Below are three reasons for this.

“Speaker’s Palette”

You probably know what a painter’s palette is. From Dictionary.com, it is a thin and usually oval or oblong board or tablet with a thumb hole at one end, used by painters for holding and mixing colors.

As a speaker, your palette of words is much larger in number than the colors a painter can select from their palette.

There are over a million words in the American English Language. You can choose any of them to express your meaning when you speak. My old college English professor, Dr. Herman Estrin, gave a reason for this continuous growth of American English: “Language changes, change is normal, usage makes it correct.”

I have many vocabulary books in my speaker’s library. You should also. One of my vocabulary books is entitled Word Power made Easy: The simple, step-by-step method that will increase your knowledge and mastery of English, by Norman Lewis.

On the very first page of the book, there is a fifteen-question quiz to determine whether you know the meanings of certain words. I was able to get all fifteen correct. I say this not to boast but to illustrate that we assimilate and use many words as speakers. Therefore, one way to increase your vocabulary is by continually speaking.

So, the extent of your vocabulary directly affects the quality of your speaking.

A large part of this quality of your speaking revolves around your knowledge of the precise meanings of words you use in your speaking.

Precise Meanings of Words

Two words I hear repeatedly confused with each other are “continual” and “continuous.” I find in speech and print the word “continual” used when the speaker or author meant “continuous.”

Going back to Dictionary.com, “continual” means of regular or frequent recurrence, often repeated frequently. “Continuous” means uninterrupted in time; without cessation.

Although the two words are similar, they do not have the same meaning. They are close but do not have the same meaning.

Your ability to know the exact meaning of as many words as possible will directly affect your success in speaking. Your speaking credibility will decrease if you say words incorrectly. Don’t let this happen. Ensure you know the precise meanings of the words used in your presentations.

Your task as a speaker is to know as many words as possible, understand these words’ precise meanings, and apply them correctly when you speak.

You are, in a sense, a painter when you speak. Your “word canvas” is blank before you start to talk. When you begin to speak, you are dabbing “paint” from your “word palette” onto your “word canvas.” You will produce either a masterpiece of word combinations or a confusing, distracting, and disorienting array of words. It’s your choice.

So, you now know words are over a million words on your “speaker’s palette.” The precise meanings of words are critical to your speaking success.

Your understanding of how to use certain words is enhanced by knowing the etymology or origin of the words you use.

Word Etymology

You will have a deeper understanding of the precise meanings of words if you study the history or etymology of words. Below is a sample of three words, their definitions, and their etymologies or origins of the words:

• Paraphrase: Definition – a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording; Origin – 1540–50; from Middle French, from Latin paraphrasis, from Greek paráphrasis.

• Ostensible: Definition – outwardly appearing as such, professed, pretended; Origin – First recorded in 1730–40; from French, from Latin ostens(us), variant of ostentus (cf. ostensive) + French -ible-ible

• Digress: Definition – to deviate or wander away from the main topic or purpose in speaking or writing; depart from the principal line of argument, plot, study, etc.; Origin – first used1520–30;

I hope this doesn’t sound too much like high school English class, but I think the origin of words is fascinating. Our advancements, from the grunts and groans of cavemen and women to the state of our language today, are breathtaking.

Below are some interesting histories of three words from the Etymology: The Origin of Words website.

• “Words, like facts, are difficult to remember out of context. Remembering is greatly facilitated when you have a body of information with which to associate either a word or a fact. For words, interesting origins or histories will help provide a context. For example, a hippopotamus is a “river horse,” from the Greek hippos, meaning ‘horse,’ and potamos, meaning ‘river.’”

• “Indiana is called the Hoosier state, and its people Hoosiers. Why? In the early days, the pioneers were gruff in manner; when someone knocked at the front door, a pioneer’s voice would often boom, “Who’s yere?”

• “If you were offered a Hobson’s choice, would you know what was meant? Thomas Hobson owned a livery stable in seventeenth-century England. He loved his horses, and to prevent any one horse from being overworked, he hired them out in turn, beginning with stall number one. Customers had to take the horses they were given. Thus, Hobson’s choice means no choice at all.”

Increase your speaking ability by exploring the origin of the words you use in your presentations.

It’s fascinating!

So, use the right choice and combination of the words on your “speaker’s palette,” study the precise meanings of words, and discover the origin of the words you use to provide context to your speaking

Remember, if you increase your vocabulary, not only will you be increasing your speaking ability, but you will increase the thickness of your wallet also!

Call to Action

• Increase the words on your “speaker’s palette” to improve your speaking

• Study the precise meanings of the words you use in your speaking to get your precise point across to your audience

• Discover the origin of the words you use in your speaking to provide you context for your speaking.

Frank DiBartolomeo is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and award-winning speaker, presentation and interview skills coach, and Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. He was awarded Toastmasters International’s highest individual award, Distinguished Toastmaster because of his outstanding work in public speaking and leadership.

Frank formed DiBartolomeo Consulting International (DCI), LLC (www.speakleadandsucceed.com) in 2007. The mission of DCI is to help technical professionals to inspire, motivate, and influence their colleagues and other technical professionals by improving their presentation skills, communication, and personal presence. Reach Frank at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com and (703) 509-4424.

Don’t miss Frank DiBartolomeo’s latest book!

“Speak Well and Prosper: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Better Presentations”

Available now at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

Frank DiBartolomeo is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and award-winning speaker, presentation and interview skills coach, and Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. He was awarded Toastmasters International’s highest individual award, Distinguished Toastmaster because of his outstanding work in public speaking and leadership.

Frank formed DiBartolomeo Consulting International (DCI), LLC (www.speakleadandsucceed.com) in 2007. The mission of DCI is to help technical professionals to inspire, motivate, and influence their colleagues and other technical professionals by improving their presentation skills, communication, and personal presence. Reach Frank at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com and (703) 509-4424.

Don’t miss Frank DiBartolomeo’s latest book!

“Speak Well and Prosper: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Better Presentations”

Available now at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com