Acronym: A form of abbreviation where the letters of the abbreviation form a new word as in HUD for The Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Ad-lib: Unplanned words or phrases spoken during a presentation.

Alliteration: The repetition of the same first sound or the same first letter in a group of words or line of poetry as in from stem to stern.

Anachronism: A person, place, or event that is placed in a time period in which it does not belong such as George Washington sitting in front of a computer.

Analogy: A comparison of two things that are alike in some ways and different in others. An example is your brain is similar to a computer.

Anecdote: A short interesting or amusing incident.

Aside: In the theater, something said to the audience that is not to be heard by the other actors. In television, the actor would look right at the camera and talk to the viewers. In a presentation, the speaker would make a temporary departure from the main theme or topic.

Attribution: Crediting the source of material used in a presentation.

Audience gag: A joke pulled on the audience, sometimes with some of the audience members used as shills.

Audience participation: The audience doing something other than listeningduring a public speaking engagement. Some of them could be on-stage with you, carrying on group discussions, playing games, singing, etc.

A/V: Abbreviation for audiovisual equipment, such as overhead projectors, tape recorders, slide projectors, microphones, etc.

Bits: A short section of material so related that it is easy to memorize. Also called Chunks, Series.

Black Humor: According to Webster's Dictionary, "Humor that ignores human suffering and looks for the absurdity in any experience, even the most tragic." Used as a stress reliever in many high pressure occupations (medicine, law enforcement, military, etc.). Also Sick humor, Gallows humor. (Note: Please don't use in a professional presentation)

Blocking: Positioning of you and your equipment on the stage. Also your intended movement on the stage.

Blooper: A clumsy mistake, especially one made in public; a faux pas.

Blue Humor: Risqu