captivating speech

USAGE SUMMARY

"captivating speech" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a speech that is highly engaging and holds the audience's attention. An example: "The speaker delivered a captivating speech that left the audience in awe." Alternative expressions include "engaging speech" and "mesmerizing speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

9.38am GMT Shimon Peres is giving a captivating speech on the future, explaining how aid to the developing world must change because much of the money goes to the rich not the poor.

The Guardian - Business

I recently attended a captivating speech, given by a retired general, in which he pointed out that change has to come from the top down.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It too was voted down by the Clinton and DNC platform members (77 to 104), despite one of the most stirring and captivating speeches of the weekend, delivered by Dr. Cornel West.

HuffPost

Dr. Nadelmann, whose engaging and motivating speech captivated the audience, wrapped up his lecture saying, "Puerto Rico's drug related crime statistics are staggering.

HuffPost

His speech captivated the Arab world.

The New York Times

His speech captivated Mr. Olsen, who said he liked that Mr. Santorum quoted C.S. Lewis and thanked God right off the bat.

The New York Times

Dodgers' iconic broadcaster Vin Scully captivates audience during speech.

Los Angeles Times

He read an address from the Battle of the Alamo and the speech was so captivating that David Duval stormed out of the room shouting: "Let's go out and kill them!" Buoyed by a favourable draw and a boisterous home crowd, USA won the first six matches of the day.

The Guardian - Sport

Richard H. Fallon reviewed the book for Harvard Magazine, and characterized Freedom for the Thought That We Hate as a clear and captivating background education to U.S. freedom of speech legislation.

Wikipedia

She spends a long and happy life there, teaching the endearing yetis English speech and good manners, and telling them captivating stories.

The Guardian - Books

These were the first sentences of Trump's speech, and they reveal why Trump is so captivating as a speaker.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "captivating speech" to describe a presentation that effectively engages and holds the audience's attention. Consider the audience and context to ensure it aligns with the level of formality and tone required. For example, using "captivating speech" would be appropriate for describing a TED Talk or a keynote address at a conference.

Common error

Avoid overusing the term "captivating" as it can become repetitive and lose its impact. Vary your language by using synonyms like "engrossing", "riveting", or "enthralling" to maintain audience engagement and add nuance to your descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "captivating speech" functions as an adjective-noun combination. The adjective "captivating" modifies the noun "speech", indicating that the speech possesses the quality of being highly engaging and holding the attention of the audience. This is supported by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "captivating speech" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to describe an engaging and attention-grabbing oration. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to evaluate the quality of a speech, highlighting its ability to hold an audience's interest. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives might be suitable for professional settings. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Academia sources. To enhance writing, consider varying the vocabulary to avoid overuse and tailor the language to the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compelling address

Replaces "speech" with "address", implying a more formal or significant oration.

engrossing presentation

Substitutes "captivating" with "engrossing" and "speech" with "presentation", focusing on holding the audience's attention.

riveting discourse

Uses "riveting" instead of "captivating" and "discourse" instead of "speech", suggesting a highly engaging and intellectual oration.

spellbinding oration

Employs "spellbinding" as a synonym for "captivating" and "oration" for "speech", emphasizing a magical or enchanting quality.

enthralling lecture

Replaces "captivating" with "enthralling" and "speech" with "lecture", indicating a captivating educational presentation.

gripping talk

Substitutes "captivating" with "gripping" and "speech" with "talk", suggesting a speech that holds the audience's attention tightly.

magnetic monologue

Uses "magnetic" instead of "captivating" and "monologue" instead of "speech", implying a solo speech that strongly attracts the audience.

fascinating delivery

Replaces "captivating" with "fascinating" and "speech" with "delivery", highlighting the engaging manner of presentation.

arresting remarks

Substitutes "captivating" with "arresting" and "speech" with "remarks", suggesting a speech that immediately grabs attention.

stirring address

Uses "stirring" instead of "captivating" and "address" instead of "speech", emphasizing the emotional impact of the speech.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "captivating speech" in a sentence?

You can use "captivating speech" to describe the qualities of a presentation, such as "The professor delivered a "captivating speech" that held the students' attention" or "Her "captivating speech" inspired the audience to take action".

What are some alternatives to "captivating speech"?

Alternatives include "compelling address", "engrossing presentation", or "riveting discourse", each offering a slightly different nuance in describing an engaging oration.

Is "captivating speech" formal or informal?

"Captivating speech" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "compelling address" might be preferred in highly professional settings.

What makes a speech truly "captivating"?

A "captivating speech" typically combines strong content, effective delivery, and an engaging style that resonates with the audience. This includes elements like storytelling, humor, and a clear message that keeps the audience interested and invested in the presentation.