The Power of Emphasis: How One Word Can Change Your Entire Message

Ever been in an argument where you said, “That’s not what I meant!”? Chances are, it wasn’t your words: it was your emphasis. Master speakers don’t just pick the right words; they highlight the right ones.

Let's try it out with the following sentence:

"I didn't steal your money today."

At face value, this sentence roughly means that you're denying the act of stealing someone else's money. Now watch how the meaning shifts based on which word you emphasize:

• I didn’t steal your money today → Somebody did it, but not me.

• I didn’t steal your money today → I definitely did not steal your money.

• I didn’t steal your money today → Borrowed? Maybe. Steal? Never.

• I didn’t steal your money today → Oh, I stole money. Just not yours.

• I didn’t steal your money today → Took something, but it wasn’t money.

• I didn’t steal your money today → Guilty… just not today.

So how do you know which word should get the spotlight? Think of emphasis as your highlighter in spoken form. The word you stress is the one your audience will carry with them long after you finish. This could include:

• A shocking number

• A descriptive adjective

• An emotional trigger

The rule of thumb? If your audience only remembers one word, make sure it’s the right one.

But as always, there's a delicate balance when it comes to emphasis. Let's explore emphasis Goldilocks-fashion, discussing too much, too little, and just right.

Believe it or not, a lot of people are guilty of overemphasizing. The risk with stressing every word is that nothing stands out. An easy fix? Consciously remind yourself to only stress one to two keywords in every sentence.

On the other hand, without emphasis, your delivery sounds flat and forgettable. If you have your speech pre-written, I'd recommend going through and highlighting key terms that highlight your talk's message. Practice your delivery by emphasizing these words.

Practice Tip: Another general tip would be to record yourself saying the same sentence with emphasis on different words. You'll be amazed at how dramatically the meaning can shift, and your audience will never miss your key points again.

Emphasis is like italics for your voice: lean on the right word, and people lean in too. But say it flat, and your talk will fall flat.