made a speech to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made a speech to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of delivering a speech to an audience or a specific group of people. Example: "The president made a speech to the nation about the new policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

So I got up and made a speech to them.

Independent

But she added: "I made a speech to the National Press Club yesterday telling what NPR was all about.

The New York Times

At 4am, Erdoğan made a speech to the nation, at what felt like the defining moment of the night.

The Guardian

In 1955, Sherwood made a speech to the Anti-Defamation League athehe Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, iNew Yorkrk.

The New Yorker

David Cameron made a speech to mark Father's Day calling for "runaway dads" to be stigmatised like drunk drivers.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As early as 1927, a G.M. executive made a speech to a management association holding up the "Organization Study" as a model for all corporations.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Mr Abe will also make a speech to Congress.

The Economist

So Leigh gets to attend the ball, and make a speech to the assembled throng.

The Guardian - Film

I could make a speech to you about how to win.

Independent

Before demonstrating how the machine works, Tracy makes a speech to a group of corporate executives.

The New Yorker

When he gets back home, he makes a speech to his constituents on "Government".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made a speech to", ensure that the context clearly indicates who the audience was. Be specific if possible.

Common error

Avoid using prepositions other than "to" after "made a speech". Using "at" or "for" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made a speech to" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of delivering a prepared oration to a specific audience. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made a speech to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that signifies the act of delivering a speech to an audience. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is versatile across various contexts, although most prevalent in News & Media sources. When using this phrase, it's essential to specify the audience and ensure that "to" is the preposition of choice to avoid grammatical errors. Alternatives like "delivered an address to" or "gave a talk to" can provide subtle variations in formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delivered an address to

More formal alternative, replacing "speech" with "address" and "made" with "delivered".

gave a talk to

Less formal than "made a speech", using "talk" instead of "speech".

addressed an audience of

Focuses on the act of addressing, suitable for formal contexts.

presented remarks to

A more formal option, implies prepared statements.

spoke before

Simple alternative emphasizing the act of speaking.

lectured to

Implies a more academic or instructional setting.

offered comments to

Suggests a less formal, more conversational approach.

proclaimed to

Emphasizes a strong, declarative style of speaking.

broadcast a message to

Indicates a wide, often electronic dissemination of information.

intoned to

Implies a rhythmic, sometimes ceremonial delivery.

FAQs

What does "made a speech to" mean?

The phrase "made a speech to" indicates that someone delivered a formal address or presentation to a specific audience or group of people.

What can I say instead of "made a speech to"?

You can use alternatives such as "delivered an address to", "gave a talk to", or "addressed an audience of" depending on the formality and context.

Is it correct to say "made a speech at" instead of "made a speech to"?

No, it is generally more correct to say "made a speech to" when indicating the audience. Using "at" typically refers to the location where the speech was given, not the recipients. For example, "He made a speech at the conference" refers to the location, but "He made a speech to the attendees" refers to the audience.

How do I use "made a speech to" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The president "made a speech to" the nation", or "She "made a speech to" the graduating class".