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Words & Delivery

✂️ Say It in Half the Words

Take a long explanation and keep shrinking it without losing the point.

What you need

A paragraph, explanation, or argument.

How to play
  1. Explain something in about 100 words.
  2. Cut it to 50.
  3. Cut it to 25.
  4. Finish with one sentence containing only the essential idea.
See one in action
Topic: why your refrigerator deserves a vacation.

Long version: “My refrigerator works every hour of every day, gets opened constantly, stores everyone’s food, and never gets a weekend.”
Shorter: “My refrigerator works nonstop and never gets a day off.”
Shortest: “Even refrigerators deserve a break.”

Cut words without cutting the core idea.
10 ideas to try

Choose any one of these prompts and use the activity steps above:

  1. Explain why your refrigerator deserves a vacation.
  2. Explain why pigeons deserve more respect.
  3. Explain why weekends should be three days long.
  4. Explain why your favorite snack is the greatest invention ever made.
  5. Explain why people should stop hitting the elevator button repeatedly.
  6. Explain why socks disappear in the laundry.
  7. Explain why school mornings feel faster than weekend mornings.
  8. Explain why waiting for food makes five minutes feel like twenty.
  9. Explain why a good nap can solve half of life’s problems.
  10. Explain why everyone should learn how to make one great sandwich.
Make it harder / funnier

Your shortest version must still include one vivid example or image. You are not allowed to save words by becoming vague.

Why it helps

Builds clarity, editing, focus, and the ability to find the real message quickly.

Ready to use this skill?
Take the activity into a full SpeakCoachLab practice session.
Try it in Public Speaking →