How to Shorten a Speech That's Too Long

Almost every first draft runs long, and the fix is rarely to cut the one thing you love - it's to remove the second-best material and tighten everything that's left. Here's the order to do it in.

Cut the weakest story, not the shortest section

If you have three anecdotes, remove the one that makes the point least vividly. One strong story beats three summarized ones, and it usually saves the most time.

Delete the throat-clearing

'I want to start by saying,' 'before I begin,' 'I've thought a lot about what to say' - all of it can go. Start on the first real line. That's often 20 to 30 seconds back.

Tighten every sentence

Read each line and remove the words that don't change the meaning. 'At this particular point in time' becomes 'now.' 'Due to the fact that' becomes 'because.' It adds up fast across a page.

Cut the recap

If your close summarizes what you already said, delete the summary and keep one strong final line. The audience was there.

Time it again and be honest

Read the trimmed version aloud at your real pace. If it's still over, repeat the pass - there's almost always another minute in there. Aim to land a minute under your slot, not exactly on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cut a speech down?

Remove the second-best story first, delete the throat-clearing opening, tighten every sentence by removing words that don't change meaning, and cut any closing recap. Then re-time it.

How many words is a 5-minute speech?

About 650 words at a normal speaking pace. If your draft is well over that for a five-minute slot, it needs cutting, not just faster delivery.

How short is too short?

If you're well under your slot, add one specific story rather than padding with generalities. But landing a minute under is safer than running over.

See how many words is a 5-minute speech and how long should a wedding speech be.