hold a speech

USAGE SUMMARY

"hold a speech" is a perfectly valid expression in written English and it can be used to refer to delivering a formal talk, either to a large audience or to a smaller group of people.
For example, "The mayor was asked to hold a speech at the ceremonial opening of the new bridge."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The deputy leader of the Free Democrats worries "whether Barack Obama was advised correctly in his choice of the Siegessäule as the site to hold a speech on his vision for a more cooperative world".

The New York Times

On Wednesday, President Schulz will hold a speech at the high-level NOAH internet conference in Berlin.

European Parliament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I have held a Christmas lunch, I have held a speech and I feel the warmth and the support of everybody in Carrington.

Independent

I hold meetings, evaluation meetings with the players, with my members of staff, I hold a Christmas lunch, I have held a speech and I feel the warmth and support of everybody in Carrington, this Aon training complex.

BBC

The commission held a meeting on December 10 at 9 am in the Saint George's School and Gërmenji held a speech to the gathered men and after the meeting led the commission to the prefecture.

Wikipedia

Hartenstein issued a bottle of beer to each member of the crew and held a speech honouring the achievements of everyone on board, and telling them that he would wear the decoration in their name.

Wikipedia

Femen were then safely escorted away by the police before Serge Ayoub held a speech accusing them of being paid by the government and alleging that the tit flashing was all a conspiracy to disturb nationalist protests.

Vice

If you're not a member of Congress who plans to be there in person, the place to be is the Capitol Hill Club, a GOP social club where Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is holding a speech-watching luncheon that doubles as a fundraiser for his new political committee.

The Washington Post

It seems unfortunate that he even needs to hold a "special" speech to discuss race at all.

The New York Times

But if someone tried to do this in America, Rick Santorum would hold a stump speech next to it and everyone's fun would be ruined. .

Vice

Other impassioned Garland residents argued that AFDI had every right to hold a free speech event — and claimed the January conference held by Muslim had been just as incendiary.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hold a speech", ensure the context clearly indicates a formal or planned address. Consider alternatives like "deliver a speech" or "give a speech" for broader applicability.

Common error

Avoid using "hold a speech" in casual conversation or informal settings. It sounds overly formal and can be replaced with simpler phrases like "talk" or "speak".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold a speech" functions as a verbal phrase, where "hold" acts as a verb indicating the action of delivering or presenting a speech. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a valid expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hold a speech" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of giving a formal presentation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid expression, although alternatives like "deliver a speech" or "give a speech" may be more common. While suitable for neutral to formal contexts, it's best to avoid using it in casual conversations. It appears across various reputable sources, including news outlets and formal business documents, suggesting a broad applicability within professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliver a speech

This alternative uses the verb 'deliver' instead of 'hold', implying a more active presentation of the speech.

give a speech

Uses the verb 'give', suggesting the act of offering or presenting the speech to an audience.

present a speech

This alternative focuses on the act of formally presenting the speech.

make a speech

This alternative uses the verb 'make' emphasizing the creation and delivery of the speech.

recite a speech

This implies a memorized and formal delivery of the speech.

address an audience

Focuses on the act of speaking directly to an audience, rather than the speech itself.

conduct a speech

Emphasizes the action of orchestrating and managing the speech.

utter a speech

Focuses on the act of physically speaking the words of the speech.

orator a speech

This implies delivering the speech with skillful and artful public speaking.

verbalize a speech

Highlights the transformation of thoughts into spoken words in the form of a speech.

FAQs

What does it mean to "hold a speech"?

To "hold a speech" means to deliver a formal address or presentation to an audience, typically in a planned setting.

What can I say instead of "hold a speech"?

You can use alternatives like "deliver a speech", "give a speech", or "make a speech" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hold a speech" or "give a speech"?

Both "hold a speech" and "give a speech" are grammatically correct, but "give a speech" is more commonly used and may sound more natural in some contexts.

Is "hold a speech" appropriate for informal situations?

The phrase "hold a speech" is generally more appropriate for formal settings. In informal situations, consider using simpler phrases like "talk" or "speak".