speak more vs speak less

Both phrases are correct depending on the context in which they are used. 'Speak more' is used when encouraging someone to talk more or provide more information, while 'speak less' is used when asking someone to talk less or be more concise.

Last updated: March 29, 2024 • 646 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to encourage someone to talk more or provide additional information.

"speak more"

This phrase is used when you want someone to increase the amount they are speaking or to share more details on a topic.

Examples:

Can you speak more about your experience with the project?
I wish you would speak more during our meetings.

Show examples from the web [+]

People have the tendency to speak more loudly when they get excited.
I'm beginning to regret That I requested you to speak more.
Then there are multilateral dialogues: we have to bring in OPEC; we have to speak more with OPEC and with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The public in Europe must also speak more about terrorism.
The one issue that needs to be stressed is the consumers' lack of awareness of the problem of unregulated, unreported and illegal fishing and that is something we need to speak more about.
I'm sorry, you'll have to speak more clearly.
Or must I speak more... Slowly?
No Member may speak more than twice on the same subject, except by leave of the President.
Do you understand what I'm saying, or shall I speak more slowly?
rapporteur. - Mr President, I will do my best to speak more slowly - I promise.
The election in Romania has showed us that we have a big responsibility to the Romanian citizens, to whom we have to speak more about the European Union and explain the benefits and rigors of the family we belong to.
Therefore I would like to call on the European Commission and the auditors to urge the implementation of the reform plan and speak more decidedly of the problems that constitute vast and inexhaustible resources.
Edit Herczog (the President asked those Members from the new Member States who usually read out their speeches in the Chamber to speak more slowly in order to make things easier for the interpreters),
(The President asked the speaker to speak more slowly for the sake of the interpreters)
I know I'm quiet... and I know I should speak more... but if you knew the things were in my head most of the time, you'd know... what it really meant.
(The President interrupted the speaker to ask her to speak more slowly, at the request of the interpreters)
Perhaps I should speak more plainly.
I should speak more.
Could you please speak more quietly? I feel hungover.

Alternatives:

talk more
share more
provide more information

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to ask someone to talk less or be more concise in their communication.

"speak less"

This phrase is used when you want someone to reduce the amount they are speaking or to be more concise in their explanations.

Examples:

Please speak less during the presentation.
I think you should speak less and listen more in this conversation.

Show examples from the web [+]

You should work hard, think less, speak less and make more friends.
Try to speak less.
I am in training in case the House, in its wisdom, decides that it would be better for me to speak less.
Figure less and speak less.
Don't worry, she speaks less English than you do Pashto.
Mr President, I shall speak for less than thirty seconds.
Nowhere. And Senator Bracken speaks in less than ten hours.
The more you speak the less time you have.
I wonder if, in the future, we could speak in less militaristic terms.
It's a pity he speaks so less often now.
From now on, I'll speak with less manners, more friendly.
The longer he speaks, the less time he has to answer Members' questions.
I cannot speak English, much less Spanish.
Its mediation missions run alongside those of traditional diplomacy and have considerable advantages: a break with the post-colonial concept of individual preserves, greater freedom to speak and intervene, less protocol than in traditional diplomacy.
Sometimes the more we speak, the less we hear - motions: words; conventions: words; treaties: words - if we are not careful, words themselves become a substitute for real action.
When the Commission speaks about 'less competitive regions' and 'more competitive regions' in this context, exactly which regions is it referring to?
It's less confusing than the way you speak.
Man: [Speaks indistinctly] Get the less severe injuries off to University Hospital.
I believe in it even less since the facts speak for themselves.
Julia will barely speak to me, and I'm getting less and less time with Elizabeth.

Alternatives:

talk less
be more concise
cut down on talking

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speak more vs speak less

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