If you want to be an interesting conversationalist, avoid the expression, “In other words …” Instead use Richard C. Borden’s famous, “For instance…” Bring out your examples, your benefits, your proofs, by this method, or by saying, “For example … “
“Let Me Make Myself Clearer” Another worn-out statement with whiskers on it, and one you should cast out of your modern, streamline vocabulary i s: “Let me make myself clearer …” Speak the thing properly the first time and you wont have to make it clearer. Conserve the other person’s time by saying the thing once , so clearly that there is no need to repeat it. It is all right to give examples, or illustrations. But to “make myself clearer” or to “make it clearer for you” not only insults the other person’s intelligence, but makes you a bore. Avoid words with whiskers! Send them to the barber! Whenever a public speaker starts off with, “And now, ladies and gentlemen, my subject tonight will be …,” he is using words with whiskers. Tell what you are going to tell. Don’t tell them to prepare themselves for what you have to tell. Avoid saying, “And now, for the next few minutes, I will discuss …” That causes the chairs of the president’s board room to shuffle and your audience to lose interest. Plunge into the topic without this self- introduction. Don’t be an “And now …” person. Here are other whiskered words for good salesmen to avoid:
“I’m tellin’ you …” “As I was saying …” “Believe me, I told him a thing or two …” “Can you keep this to yourself?” “Will you keep this confidential, if I tell you …” “Well, it was like this – I says to him…” “I wish I had your brains …” “You wouldn’t have time for a demonstration would you?” “My – you are an intelligent person …” “I didn’t know, see , otherwise I’d have gone, see …” “The house was there, you know , and the entrance here, you know .”
Mr. Wilfred J. Funk, of the Digest , has made a list of what he considers the ten most annoying words: Okay, lousy, terrific, contact, definitely, gal, racket , swell, impact , and honey. His objection to them, he says, is that they are overworked.
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